http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20071227092322934C122793

Christmas blaze leaves scores homeless

Ayanda Mhlongo

December 27 2007 at 10:04AM

It will be a sad day for residents of the Foreman Road Informal Settlement when they return from visiting families in the rural areas to find their homes destroyed.

The residents who remained at the informal settlement on Christmas day could only watch helplessly as their homes and everything they owned went up in flames.

The massive blaze that ravaged the settlement on Tuesday night destroyed more than 200 shacks, leaving over 500 people homeless.

While police said the cause of the fire was not yet known, residents believe it was caused by a candle left alight in one of the shacks.

One of the residents said that owner of the shack that first caught alight had apparently left a candle burning and went out to visit friends.

S’bu Zikode, chairperson of the Baha’i Basemjondolo, an organisation that represents shack dwellers, said the fire had spread from shack to shack within minutes.

“Fortunately we were able to send out the message quickly for everyone to evacuate. The fire spread so quickly that none of the residents had time to remove their belongings,” he said.

Firefighters worked tirelessly through the night battling to put out the flames and to ensure that it did not spread further.

Zikode said while there were no deaths or serious injuries, the situation would have been far worse if all the families had been at home.

“Most of the residents were not around; they are visiting their families in the rural areas, so many of them do not even know their homes have been destroyed. In fact, they will have nothing except the clothes on their back when they return,” he said.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said a disaster plan had been put in place and that aid would be sent for the destitute families.

“The families are being housed at a local community centre until they are able to rebuild their homes,” he said.

Mdunge said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the fire.

Zikode said some of the residents had returned to the site early on Wednesday in the hope of rebuilding their shacks.

“Many of them are struggling because the material was destroyed and we are appealing to people to help the families. They are left with nothing.

“They don’t have clothes, blankets or food, and the small children and women are the worst off,” he said.

Zikode added that Baha’i Basemjondolo had tried to get assistance from non-government organisations, but that many were closed during the Christmas period.

o This article was originally published on page 2 of Daily News on December 27, 2007