A day after Christmas, residents of the informal settlement 7de Laan in Valhalla Park woke up to a tragedy when 99 shacks burnt down, along with four of neighbouring Oliver Street’s backyard dwellings.
Fortunately no one was injured, but about 200 families lost all their belongings and three dogs could not escape the fire.
The City of Cape Town’s Theo Layne confirmed the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but residents say they have now had enough as this is the second time that their shacks have burnt down and rebuilding is not easy. They want brick houses and refuse to accept material for building shacks again, as provided by the City.
The community of Valhalla Park stood united in helping the residents of 7de Laan to save what they could, and offering something to eat for the children. The South African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF) and volunteers from Valhalla Park assisted the victims.
Local ward councillor for Valhalla Park, Jonathan Cupido, says the civic hall was opened to accommodate 7de Laan residents.
Oliver Street backyard dweller, Sandra Marvel (53), says she is unemployed and all her belongings were damaged in the fire. An elderly woman, Janetta McDonald from Worcester, who came to visit her sister, has also suffered as all her clothes burnt to ashes in her sister’s shack.
Ten-year-old Victor Van Wyk was still wearing his Christmas clothes, which is all he has left now. Resident Whalleed Klein says his new tiles, washing machine and flat-screen TV were all destroyed.
The community is requesting assistance in the form of donations of any kind to help 7de Laan residents get back on their feet.
