Fire ravishes Jumpas informal settlement

“Housing for today’s people may only be supplied in a hundred years time.”

This was a comment made by Ward 118 Clr Neuren Pietersen following the fire on November 12 that tore through Jumpas informal settlement in Cleveland, displacing 75 people, including children.

According to Johannesburg EMS, a faulty stove was the cause of the fire.

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Pietersen’s comment is a result of what he said was the current housing policy frameworks that are in place.

“Clearly there needs to be a shift in policy positions, expectations, housing structures and the way housing allocations are done,” Pietersen told the EXPRESS.

He said in order to provide informal dwellers with proper housing, abandoned buildings in the Johannesburg CBD ought to be reclaimed from illegal occupants and released to private ownership.

“The plan is to constantly reclaim abandoned buildings from hijackers and to give them to investors with protracted leases.

“Every person is paying rent to somebody. Nobody is living for free. Since this is the case, there must be a way of getting people to pay rent in a formal dwelling.”

The EXPRESS reported online that there were no fatalities resulting from the fire.

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Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said a few people were treated on scene for smoke inhalation before those displaced were taken to an emergency shelter in the area.

“There were four people who were treated on scene,” said Mulaudzi.

“Relief efforts to provide food for the displaced were also held before those affected were transported to a nearby emergency shelter.”

Cleveland SAPS spokesperson Capt Johan Jordaan said numerous fires at the settlement have been reported.

He said no foul play is suspected.

“The fire was caused by a faulty stove, but I cannot comment on how that could happen,” said Jordaan.

“A criminal case has not been opened pertaining to this incident.”

Spokesperson for the Department of Housing Willington Simelane was not available to respond to an email sent by the EXPRESS on November 15.