Fiery horror for Plastic View
The deadly weekend blaze at the Plastic View informal settlement could see a resolution found for the future of the residents.
Emergency relief is flooding in from communities across Pretoria after a fire left five people dead and about 1 600 others destitute in the Plastic View informal settlement.
The Moreletapark NG Church next to the 1 000-shack settlement has launched a major drive to assist those left homeless and without any possessions.
To date, more than 1 600 people had been assisted by the church with food, blankets and clothing
In a statement on Monday, the church asked for the donation of cookware, crockery, linen, blankets, mattresses and towels.
It said the public could donate baby nappies and food, milk and toiletries as well as building materials.
With a soup kitchen at the church running until Thursday, the public was asked to donate some of their time to assist.
Tents were being erected on the church grounds to house those in need. by the church and will be operated for the next couple of days.
Residents of Pretoria-Moot are planning to donate 300 hot dogs to residents in need.
“We are planning on getting together on Tuesay 5 July at 13:00 at the NG church in 571 24th Avenue. It would be wonderful if as many residents as possible can come help prepare the hot dogs or donate towards buying hot dog supplies,” said community member Ilze Moolman Croucamp.
On Monday, grief counsellors visited the settlement to give moral assistance to those affected.
An estimated 350 shacks – a third of the squatter camp – was burnt to the ground in the early hours of Sunday.
A candle was believed to have fallen over, causing flames that quickly swept through the makeshift homes in the shanty town east of Pretoria.
Scores of residents were left without shelter on one of the coldest nights experienced in Pretoria this winter.
“We blame alcohol for this disaster,” residents told Rekord, saying that the person whose candle had allegedly caused the blaze had been drunk at the time.
According to the Garsfontein police, the fire had spread from the eastern side to the west of the settlement.
Some residents also blamed the Tshwane metro.
“If we were allowed to build our shelters using corrugated iron sheets or more substantial material than plastic, the fire would not have spread this quickly.”
The squatter camp is formally known as Woodlane Village but is most often referred to as Plastic View.
Home Affairs employees were planning to visit the site of the tragedy, hoping to assist those who had lost their documentation in the blaze.
Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and Gauteng premier David Makhura visited Plastic View on Sunday, expressing condolences and grief.
“Women and children have been left destitute and we will start immediately to bring in shelter and food,” Makhura said.
He said a major problem was that many Plastic View residents were foreign nationals being in the country illegally and were reluctant to speak.
“But we are not here to deal with who should be here and who should not,” the premier said, adding that all attempt would be made to break down the barrier of communication to enable everyone to receive assistance.
At this stage, it is believed that one of the deceased was a South African, two were from Zimbabwe and two from Mozambique.
The identities of the dead have not yet been confirmed.
Mayoral spokesman Blessing Manale said the metro had identified the deceased and was working around the clock to inform their next of kin and assist in the transportation of their bodies.
“We have activated a disaster command centre comprising the SA Police Service, Tshwane fire and emergency service as well as our social development services to assist in rendering the required services,” Manale said.
A relief centre was also opened at the church.
He said the metro remained committed to its programme aimed at the eradication and formalisation of informal settlements.
”We will accelerate our efforts of resolving the current impasse on the relocation of Plastic View residents while ensuring that there is temporary dignified accommodation for those whose shacks were destroyed by the fire,” Manale said.
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Also read:
Plastic View fire death toll rises
Four dead as fire ravages Plastic View
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