The fire raging on Table Mountain is still not contained and the wind is expected to pick up throughout the day. Thousands of residents are having to evacuate their homes and firefighters are working tirelessly, putting their own lives at risk to save others. Wildlife are in danger and might try to flee into residential areas. They all need our help now more than ever, Mother City.
Here’s what you should know and what you can do:
- Do not go near the fire. Stay off roads if at all possible to allow right of way for emergency services.
- Residents are urged to call 107 from any cell phone if in an emergency.
- Do not approach affected areas to take footage. You are putting yourself at risk and interfering with the work of the emergency crews.
- You can drop off supplies at any of the fire stations in the area. Dropping off at the Woodstock, Lakeside, Sea Point, Roeland and Newlands stations would be most helpful.
- Supplies needed are water, non-fizzy energy drinks, energy snacks and eye drops.
- Gift of the Givers will provide three meals per day for the next seven days. The public has been asked to donate any essential items and food which they may wish to contribute towards affected students at Old Mutual West Campus, 91 Jan Smuts Road, Pinelands, Cape Town.
- If you’d like to open your home for students in distress – click here.
- If you want to donate towards the Volunteer Wildfire Services, you can do so via SnapScan – just open the app, click on the ‘donate’ option on the bottom, and find them on the menu of charities and organisations.
- Help students here.
- The Cape of Good Hope SPCA Cape Town has asked Capetonians in Newlands to place shallow containers with water in their gardens for animals that might come down the mountain. Emergency calls to be made to 083 3261604. Animals will be taken in.
- Donations needed for The Cape of Good Hope SPCA to help with injured wildlife: dressings, bandages, Silbecor ointment, cool-packs, fresh fruit/vegetables.
- Absolute Pets have agreed to coordinate donations for the SPCA. Donations can be dropped off at the following Absolute Pets Stores:
Flamingo (Tableview)
Welgemoed
Cape Gate
Gardens
Constantia
Cavendish
- To donate towards students, you can contribute to the #UCTFire emergency relief fund:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJPlease include your donor name if you so wish, as well as the reference for your donation, e.g. Name Surname, #UCTFire. - One Movement SA is providing students in need with accommodation. Contact [email protected].
- Tennyson and Addison Street Mosques in Salt River has invited UCT students for Iftaar inshaAllah.
- Common Ground Church (23 Milner Road) is offering a gathering and accommodation site for 350 students. They are also in the process of trying to match students who need help with those who can provide help, specifically accommodation.
- The President and other hotels around Cape Town have donated available rooms to help those displaced by the fire.
- The Cape Milner Hotel have made accommodation available to students and faculty in need at a UCT Fire Relief rate of R450 per single or R550 twin as an interim offer to assist.
- Contact Tim Brown on 083 889 9292 if your hotel can help.
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Picture: Twitter/City of Cape Town