Lovers’ quarrel leaves 75 homeless in Tembisa informal settlement
'We appreciate the people who bring us food but we need homes,' said a resident.
The DA has called on the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently build replacement houses for 75 people who were displaced when a fire spread through 22 shacks in Madelakufa informal settlement in Tembisa on Saturday night.
“After the fire, we engaged with the community to assess the extent of the destruction caused by the fire and find a solution to the tragedy they faced,” said Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Gauteng spokesperson on basic services and infrastructure.
“The damage is heartbreaking, with residents still trying to figure out how to rebuild their lives. The fire has extensively destroyed their homes and some lost everything, including their identity documents and grant cards, as they watched the fire spread.
“These people are in dire need of ongoing support, including the provision of alternative housing, food and clothes,” added Nt’sekhe.
Some of the most vulnerable of the community members, with school-aged children, don’t have families and are sleeping on the floor of other people’s homes and under make-shift shelters.
“Residents of Madelakufa have been living in poverty for years with a lack of reliable basic services.
“I have written to the relevant government departments to urgently step in and called on businesses and corporate organisations to join another official visit to the area on Friday to hand out basic necessities.”
The blaze broke out at about 11.30pm, leaving 48-year-old Norman Mzimba seriously injured.
Affected residents told Kempton Express’ sister newspaper, The Tembisan, that the fire was caused by a man in the informal settlement who constantly fought with his girlfriend.
It is believed the couple had a heated argument that night after which he set fire to his shack.
Hendry Lubisi (52), who stays with his three nephews, said: “The fire was strong and nobody could save their belongings as we were all focusing on putting out the fire.”
Lubisi added he and his nephews were relying on their neighbours for accommodation.
Another affected resident, Zola Vilakazi, said they needed local government or any good Samaritan to help them erect new homes.
“We appreciate the people who bring us food but we need homes. We can’t continue living like this, moving around, pleading for accommodation. We feel punished by another person’s evil deeds,” added Vilakazi.
