ONE person died after a fire destroyed several homes at an informal settlement in Effingham on Sunday (May 18) evening.

Ayanda Ziqethu, 29, from Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape, was burnt beyond recognition in the blaze at the Sim Place Informal Settlement.

Initial estimates suggest that 21 dwellings were destroyed, leaving around 30 people displaced.

According to the eThekwini Municipality’s Fire and Emergency Services the fire broke out just after 23:00.

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Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the blaze.

A team from the City is providing assistance to displaced residents.

MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma offered his condolences to the victim and the families affected by the blaze.

He added that he had also been in contact with National Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane and eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba.

“Working in an integrated fashion, we offer to do everything possible to ensure that the people of Effingham Informal Settlement rebuild their lives. At this stage, we don’t know what caused the fire. We will be getting a report from the eThekwini Mayor,” he said.

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Earlier today, Ziqethu’s remains were recovered and taken to the Phoenix Mortuary.

The MEC expressed his appreciation to the SAPS K9 Unit who assisted in the operation.

“We wish to commend the SAPS K9 Unit, as assigned by the Provincial Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for working with our team from Human Settlements and eThekwini Disaster Management Unit to remove, in a dignified way, the remains of the deceased. The next few days are going to be extremely difficult for Ziqethu’s family members who are traveling from the Eastern Cape,” he said.

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