Fire leaves community reeling

The community of Mangaunge Informal Settlement in Ward 32, south of Durban, are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after a fire broke out at the settlement on Friday November 15.

The Municipality’s Disaster Management Centre and Fire and Emergency Services worked through the night to aid victims of the fire and take them to safety, said eThekwini Municipality communications spokesperson, Ms Gugu Sisilana.

“The team immediately responded to an urgent call to attend to the blaze, which spread in the informal settlement on Friday afternoon. About 80 structures were destroyed, leaving 129 people, including children, displaced. So far, no injuries or fatalities have been reported; however, the teams were on site investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the impact thereof,” said Ms Sisilana

Various municipal departments, non-profit organisations and social relief partners were on site to assist those who were affected. A temporal tent structure has been erected. The tents are separated into male and female sections to accommodate the displaced in the interim, while the municipality and other government departments work on a more permanent solution, said Ms Sisilana.

The Municipality urges the public to report any emergencies on 031 361 0000.