One dead, 800 homes destroyed as fire rips through Pretoria township

A young child lies on a couch that was saved from the fire. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee)

23 Sep 2024

One person has died and two others have been admitted to hospital with critical injuries after a fire destroyed large parts of the Cemetery View informal settlement in Pretoria in the early hours of Saturday.

‘The multiple-shack fire was reported to the City of Tshwane Emergency Call Centre at [4:07am]. Upon arrival firefighters reported that a large area in the informal settlement was on fire with multiple shacks alight. Firefighters started with firefighting procedures and initiated evacuation procedures,” said Lindsay Mnguni, spokesperson for the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department.

By the time the fire was brought under control more than 800 homes were destroyed, affecting about 2,600 residents.

An aerial view after the fire shows most of the settlement has been burnt to ashes.

On Sunday morning residents were trying to rebuild their homes using wood and whatever materials they could salvage.

township fire A young child sits on a pile of branches which residents are using to rebuild their homes. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee)

Elizabeth Chauke, who has been living in the settlement for more than 12 years, said she was unsure how she would rebuild her home since she lacks the resources to buy new materials.

“I just don’t have the money to rebuild my home. Maybe if we can get assistance from somewhere it will be possible. This is the second time… my home has been burnt in a fire,” she said.

In September 2023, a fire caused a similar amount of damage in the same settlement. Many residents lost their homes in both instances.

People have begun rebuilding their homes. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee)

township fire More than 800 homes were destroyed. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee)

Residents wait patiently in line for assistance. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee)

Hendrick Ngoako was working the night shift as a security guard at a nearby company when his wife called, saying the settlement was on fire. He rushed home only to find everything he possessed had been destroyed. Luckily, his wife had managed to escape with their eight-month child.

“We will have to try and rebuild. We have no option, this is our only home,” Ngoako said.

He and his young family spent the night sleeping outside, exposed to the elements on one of the coldest weekends of the year. “I’m hoping to get some sort of shelter up by tonight because it’s difficult, especially for the young child.”

A young child lies on a couch that was saved from the fire. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee)

Disaster management teams as well as some aid organisations were on hand to help residents with food and clothing.

Tshwane Emergency Services said the cause of the fire had not been determined and the area was still a crime scene. DM

First published by GroundUp.

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