A portion of land has been identified to relocate people living at Cemetery View informal settlement near Woodlands Shopping Centre.
This was disclosed by the acting MEC for Gauteng Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, who visited the settlement on Monday after more than 2000 people were left displaced when their shacks were burned down by fire on the weekend.
Maile said there were 2600 people housed in 814 shacks and the majority of them were foreign nationals.
“There are intergovernmental efforts deployed to aid the community including emergency services, Home Affairs and the Department of Human Settlements from the three spheres of government who will continue to be stationed there,” he posted on X.
He said land has already been identified for relocation and the City of Tshwane has appointed contractors to undertake geotech services to ensure the place is habitable.
One person suffered fatal burn injuries while other victims were admitted at local hospitals for medical attention after sustaining fire burns.
Maile said: “We send our deepest condolences to the departed, and equally wish a speedy recovery to the person hospitalised.”
Local ward councillor Malcolm De Klerk said there were plans to fence off the area along De Villebois and Waterlake Drive with a view to prevent illegal occupation of the area.
De Klerk disclosed on his social media post that the Department of Home Affairs and land invasion units would be contacted to secure the land and prevent any further illegal occupation.
“We understand that this incident has caused significant disruption and hardship for those affected,” he said.
The disastrous fire comes a year after people at the settlement were left displaced when their shacks were razed to the ground in September.
During last year’s disaster, two men and a child were reported dead and some residents were rushed to hospitals for treatment of burn injuries.
At the time, De Klerk expressed concern that it was not for the first time such a furnace destroyed the shacks, adding the Department of Home Affairs would need to step in and assist in dealing with cases of foreigners.
Spokesperson for Tshwane Emergency Services Department, Lindsay Mnguni, said firefighters responded to multiple shacks on fire in Woodlake Street in Pretorius Park on Saturday.
He said multiple shacks on fire was reported to the emergency call centre at about 4.07am on Saturday.
“The centre immediately dispatched multiple firefighting resources from Silverton Fire Station, Hazelwood Fire Station, Central Fire Station, Mamelodi Fire Station, Centurion Fire Station and Heuweloord Fire Station to the scene. These included two fire trucks, an industrial pumper, a mobile command unit, two rapid intervention units, a water carrier and a district commander’s unit,”Mnguni said.
Upon arrival, he said, firefighters reported that a large area in the informal settlement was on fire.
“Firefighters then started with firefighting operations and initiated evacuation procedures. Firefighters saved numerous shacks from being destroyed by the fire, which was extinguished at about 5.05am,” he said.
MEC for Gauteng Health and Wellness, Nkomo Nomantu, visited victims of the fire disaster at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
The department said the majority of the victims have been discharged after receiving medical care and counselling.
Mnguni said the cause of fire has not yet been determined and urged the public to be cautious during the cold weather to ensure the safety and well-being of people, animals and property.
Pretoria News
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