The Cemetery View informal settlement in the east of Pretoria was destroyed on Saturday night after a grass fire destroyed shacks, leaving thousands homeless.

This is according to Tshwane emergency services spokesperson deputy chief Peter Motolla.

“We received a call at 20:19 for a grass fire at the informal settlement,” Motolla says. “We responded immediately and found 150 shacks had burned to the ground, leaving 2 000 people homeless.”

The cause of the grass fire is unknown at this stage.

Motolla confirmed there had been two fatalities. “A man and his five-year-old daughter died in the fire while no other injuries were reported.”

Local ward councillor Malcolm de Klerk confirmed the devastation. “The fire has been extinguished and the fire brigade will remain on scene to address any flare-ups, police are also on the scene,” adds De Klerk.

De Klerk urges residents not to start giving donations until the situation had ‘calmed down’. “Anyone who has access to a TLB can please help clean up the mess. Police and private security are on scene to assist.”

On Saturday evening, residents took to Facebook to share footage of the fire, and many reported hearing explosions. De Klerk says he would continue to update the public on the unfolding events.