The
Mustadafin Foundation is appealing to the public to assist residents of the 7de Laan Informal Settlement in Valhalla
Park with donations as more than 600 people were left displaced after a fire
raged through the informal dwellings.
According
to the City of Cape Town’s disaster risk management spokesperson, Charlotte
Powell, the blaze, which occurred on 26 December 2017, destroyed 120
structures, leaving 649 affected. The
cause of the incident was an unattended stove.
Powell
says, “The City’s informal settlements department issued fire kits for the
residents to re-build. Flush toilets and water taps have been replaced. The
electricity department made an assessment, but due to damaged infrastructure
electricity has not yet been restored.”
Ward
councillor Jonathan Cupido says everything is being done to assist the affected
families. Cupido has also praised the Mustadafin Foundation for their help.
The
foundation’s disaster coordinator, Ebrahiem Smith, says since the fire
occurred, most structures have been rebuilt.
“Structures
have been built, but there has been no electricity yet as cables were stolen.
It’s so disappointing to see that criminal elements will take advantage of
another family’s disadvantage.
“We
are in the process of putting food parcels together which will be handed to the
families early next week,” says Smith.
