Hundreds displaced after fire
According to the Johannesburg Emergency Service spokesperson, Mr Robert Mulaudzi, fire is a major problem.
The Mangolongolo Informal Settlement is in need of urgent assistance.
A fire erupted within the settlement last weekend.
60 shacks were razed to the ground, with 115 adults and an unknown number of children being displaced.
According to the Johannesburg Emergency Services, the fire was caused by a paraffin stove.
In September 2010, more than 250 shacks burnt down in two separate fires. Four lives were lost in the blaze.
Last April, a fire in the settlement destroyed 44 shacks, while in November, yet another blaze reduced 50 shacks to ashes.
The DA’s Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, MPL Jack Bloom and DA councillor Victor Penning, visited the area following the most recent fire.
“Despite the fires, the situation in Mangolongolo is still not being attended to. The city council and disaster management only assists with food and blankets, which is very little assistance,” said MPL Bloom.
He expressed concern about “vulnerable” sections, where wood and zinc are used for shacks.
“It is too crowded, which is why fires spread so rapidly and disastrously,” said MPL Bloom.
“More needs to be done to prevent more fires. Council needs to sit down with residents and re-order the settlement so that there are fire-breaks and larger spaces between the shacks. Piped water needs to be made more available and dangerous paraffin stoves must be replaced with safe methanol stoves. Solar lights should replace candles,” said MPL Bloom.
According to the Johannesburg Emergency Service spokesperson, Mr Robert Mulaudzi, fire is a major problem.
“We have been working with the community in this area since 2008 when we started the project Jozi safety kit. The kit consists of a 25 litre bucket, a solar light, a candle holder and a first aid kit.
“The project made a difference but winter is always a problem because that’s when most fires happen. Even though we have raised awareness and come up with campaigns to decrease the number of fires, it still comes back to human error. When people have arguments, candles are knocked over or even a paraffin stove.
“People must be careful, especially now that it is the school holidays. Parents should never leave children unattended with a stove, candle or brazier burning. If one uses a brazier for warmth, never place it inside – it. It must be outside at all times,” he said.
