Close to 25 families were left homeless after a blaze destroyed 12 shacks in Khayamandi’s Zone J at the weekend.
According to Simidile Gcelu, a resident who lost everything in the fire, it broke out at his shack just after 14:00 on Saturday (5 November) and quickly spread through the neighbourhood.
“I got home from work and the power had just come back on after load shedding,” he recalled. “I heard a loud crackle and turned around to see a big fire. I jumped up and left my house, with only my identity document and the clothes on my back. I was barefooted and somebody gave me a pair of shoes.”
Thobile Mashugu, who owned the Mashugu Spaza Shop which also burnt down, said he lost more than R35 000 worth of stock in the inferno. “The stock had just come the previous day. I don’t know what I am going to do. I’ve lost everything and don’t have insurance. We have to build from scratch.”
On Eikestadnuus’ visit to the scene on Monday (7 November), residents said they received little help from the municipality, and whatever help they received was tantamount to poor service.
They claim they waited almost three days for supplies to arrive to enable them to rebuild their homes, and when the municipality eventually came late on Monday afternoon, they received only 15 corrugated iron sheets, which were not nearly enough to rebuild one structure.
The residents also claimed municipal workers said they were finishing off for the day when asked if they could get more material on Monday. They also alleged the municipality would, in the past, provide shelter at a nearby hall, but this time around they refused to give shelter to the residents.
Yesterday (Wednesday 9 November), in response to Eikestadnuus’ query, Stellenbosch Municipality’s communications manager Stuart Grobbelaar said the municipality’s Community Development Department had assisted all affected families with hot meals in the form of brunch and dinner.
“On the evening of the incident more than 150 meals were provided,” he said.
“Two meals are still being provided to affected families daily. Fire kits were issued to all families. Food parcels, mattresses, blankets, toiletries, vanity packs and baby packs (where applicable) are being distributed to affected families today (9 November).”
Another complaint from victims was the efficiency of the fire brigade, as they claimed they had to take charge and extinguish the fire themselves. “Our Fire Department received a call about a structure fire in Khayamandi on Saturday 5 November at 14:15,” said Grobbelaar. “In total, 19 firefighting personnel were dispatched to the scene, with nine firefighting officials arriving at the scene within five minutes of the call (14:20). On arrival, multiple informal structures were already well alight and the fire was spreading rapidly.
“The firefighters managed to successfully extinguish the fire with four jets and three fog jets as well as water from a street hydrant.”
Grobbelaar said firefighters’ work was somewhat hindered, as they were apparently harassed, intimidated and assaulted by some community members. “One of our senior firefighters was beaten over his helmet with a pole and his arm twisted to grab a fire hose from him. He was taken to hospital and is currently recovering from his injuries.”
