This is according to Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Benedicta van Minnen, who told IOL that more than 800 kits have been handed out already this summer.
Van Minnen says Cape Town’s informal settlements are at particularly high risk, as they are traditionally built from highly flammable materials and have a high density. This was most evident in the recent blaze that struck the Masiphumelele settlement near Kommetjie, which razed 800 homes; claiming two lives and leaving 4,000 people homeless.
The emergency household rebuild kits consist of wooden poles, corrugated steel roof sheets, nails, a door, window and a padlock. Van Minnen says Cape Town is the only metro in the country that assists residents in this way.
Earlier this month, Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille launched the Misa Umlilo Stop the Fire campaign, which promotes the painting of shacks with fire-retardant paint. With the heat of summer now upon us however, I fear we’re only going to see pictures like these more frequently:
Read the full story on the City’s response to the Cape Town fires on IOL.
Photography by Kyle Mijlof (1) and Justin Sullivan (2,3,4,5)
ok, is it planning a sustainable council housing solution so people don’t live on top of each other, augmenting the impact of shack fires, and away from work/school opportunities?
We certainly hope so.
I work with people who live in Masiphumele, and 3 of the guys lost everything in that fire, so heartbreaking. Our valley as always rallied and the local charity, Living Hope, was inundated with donations, but there definitely needs to be a long term plan for better housing.
New dimensions in Masiphumelele – homes reduced in size to make way for firebreak: http://www.brightcontinent.co.za/2015/12/06/masiphumelele-fire-township-cape-town/
Report people who throw their cigerettes out the car window a pic will help to 021 424 7715. Put the number in your cell phone now.
They need all the help they are getting
Congratulations to the city council: one of our street guards rebuilt his house yesterday from materials supplied by council. He has also received a massive amount of help and household goods etc from the community he serves here.
We can hear the people rebuilding their homes. ( It is 11PM) The hammering will probably go on all night. They should be able to get quite a bit done as the weather is being kind – no wind and no rain tonight
Influx of people from the Kwa-Zulu Natal ready for the voting session. A stragity by ANC to win over Western Cape Province.
CapeTownEtc thanks for sharing Cape Town Etc, have a great Wednesday 🙂 (insight by http://commun.it)