UPDATE: Residents refuse to move

The City of Ekurhuleni and residents of the Road Five informal settlement in Van Wyk Road, Brentwood Park, are at logger heads.

Community members are refusing to be moved to temporary housing following a devastating fire that ripped through the settlement on June 3.

Nearly 700 people, mostly women and children, have been left homeless following the blaze. No injuries were reported.

Nthabiseng Bodilu, who has been living in the settlement for the past 22 years, said her and her family were sleeping when they were woken with a commotion.

“When I opened my door all I saw were flames. I grabbed my kids and a bag before running to safety,” said Bodilu.

“The fire started next to my house. I have lost everything.”

DEMS and members of the Benoni Sector Two CPF responded to the scene and the blaze was contained.

CPF members were on the scene on June 4, distributing food to the affected women and children while members of the CoE gathered personal information of those affected.

Zenande Hleza watched in horror as the charred remains of her personal belongings were carried from what remained of her home.

“My baby is two weeks old, I do not know where we will go,” said Hleza.

According to ward councillor André du Plessis, relief aid in the form of blankets, food and water have been made available to the affected residents.

“However, they are now loitering on the side of the road as they are refusing to be moved to the Benoni City Hall and the Impala Park Community Centre, which have been made available as temporary shelter,” said du Plessis.

“This informal settlement was originally established on private property. A court order had been obtained previously to have the residents removed. They are refusing to leave unless their demands to resettle on the property or to be moved to permanent land is met,” said du Plessis.

“Representatives of the departments of human settlements and safety and security are engaging with the stakeholders to facilitate the move. No permanent facilities are available for the relocation.

“Residents have become hostile and have threatened to burn CoE vehicles as well as those belonging to aid organisations, so our hands are tied at the moment.”

Donations for those affected, has since been called off due to growing safety concerns of volunteers from Sector Two CPF.

Investigations into the cause of the fire is still underway.

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