Category Archives: fire

Two Children Seriously Injured in a Fire in the eLindelani Settlement

Monday, 6 January 2020
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement

Two Children Seriously Injured in a Fire in the eLindelani Settlement

The family of Mazeka in our Lindelani branch started the year 2020 in a very bad way. The family lost everything in a fire that broke out last night, at around 9pm.

The fire was started by a candle that fell on the bed while the eldest child was in the toilet. Two children aged 9 and 17 sustained serious burn in the fire. They have been treated at a nearby clinic where they are being taken care of. However, their lives will never be the same again. Their lives will be divided in to the time before and after the fire.  Continue reading

GroundUp: Abahlali leader blames government for baby’s death

GroundUp

12 July 2019   By Musa Binda

Sbu Zikode says that Khwezi Mlingo would have survived if Cato Manor’s shacks had water and electricity

The charred remains of the shack in which baby Khwezi Mlingo died on Monday. Photo: Musa Binda

Sbu Zikode, president of Abahlali BaseMjondolo, blamed the death of baby Khwezi Mlingo on government during her memorial service at eNkanini Informal Settlement in Cato Manor on Friday.

Khwezi was killed in a shack fire, caused by a candle falling, on Monday.  Continue reading

Abahlali to hold Memorial Service for baby Khwezi Mlingo

11 July 2019
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Abahlali to hold Memorial Service for baby Khwezi Mlingo

At 12 pm tomorrow Abahlali baseMjondolo members will hold a Memorial Service for baby Khwezi at the eNkanini land occupation in Cato Manor. Baby Khwezi Mlingo was burnt to ashes on Tuesday at 8pm after a candle fell causing a shack fire that took her life and injured her two siblings. This community, like many shack communities, does not have formal access to water and electricity.

For too long now Abahlali have been serving our life sentence in the shacks, without the basic services that can keep people safe, a life sentence handed by the ANC government. The City has vowed never to render any services to Abahlali settlements as long as the ANC is still in charge of government. This decision was taken since Nigel Gumede and Obed Mlaba were mayors of Durban and it has been continued till today. Anyone who rebels against the corruption and violence of the ANC, against the indignity in which the ruling party forces us to live, is denied access to basic services and housing.  Continue reading

Baby Khwezi Mlingo Is No More

Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Baby Khwezi Mlingo Is No More

Last night at about 8pm a 2-year-old baby girl, Khwezi Mlingo was left in the house in the eNkanini land occupation with her two brothers, one is 7 years and the other is 12 years.

The mother of the 3, Mbali Mlingo was still on her way back from work. She had asked the neighbour who is running a creche nearby to check on her kids. The father had left to work for his night shift duties. The self-connected electricity went off and the neighbour helped to light the candle. The candle fell causing the shack fire. The 12-year-old boy and the 7 year boys were burnt trying to help their sister. They sustained minor injuries and were rushed to hospital. They were treated and discharged. However, the 2-year-old baby girl Khwezi could not make it. Khwezi was burnt to ashes. Continue reading

Homeless and hopeless after fire ravages Good Hope

GroundUp

“Why are people still living here despite the countless promises to move them?” asks activist

Photo of aftermath of fire

A shack fire in Good Hope settlement in Ekhuruleni left at least ten families homeless. Photo: Nation Nyoka/New Frame

By Nation Nyoka

5 July 2018

At least ten shacks have been destroyed, and one damaged, following a fire that spread from one shack to adjacent shacks in the space of an hour in Germiston’s Good Hope shack settlement on Wednesday.  Continue reading