‘I LOST MY HOME FOUR TIMES’

IMAGINE losing your home and all your possessions in an uncontrolled fire. 

Now imagine it happening again and again and again. Four times to be exact. 

That’s how many times Faizal from Phumlani Village had to rebuild his life again after it was destroyed by fire. 

To Faizal that’s not even the worst thing that happened to him. Instead, he recalled a fire in 2023 that claimed the life of an innocent young kid. 

Faizal told the Daily Voice: “On 19 January 2023, we lost an 18-month kid with alcohol syndrome. I couldn’t save him. I heard him screaming and then ba! His head burst, I went mad.”

Faizal was rocked then and now he is one of 77 people who were left homeless after a fire ripped through the community on Sunday night - the second since 6 October.

Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities this time according to Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Edward Bosch. 

He said that after 9.09pm the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service received reports of wood and iron structures that were set alight.

Bosch explained: “Seven firefighting resources as well as an incident management team were dispatched.

“It took firefighters just over two hours to extinguish the fire. A total of 17 wood and iron structures were destroyed, leaving 77 persons displaced.”

Gift of the Givers Project Manager Ali Sablay said that their teams were activated to the scene following an incredibly demanding week for them after responding to four fires in six days.

Sablay added: “Our team members have once again been called into action, this time in Phumlani Village Informal Settlement, Pelican Park, where strong winds are fuelling the rapid spread of flames and escalating the crisis.”

Community workers Beryl Williams, known as Aunty Girly, and retired Captain Keith Blake are also assisting fire victims.

Blake said his friend promised to assist with a truck of building materials while he has some nails and screws.

He said: “I just thought of the children and something for them to nibble on and my friend from China Town has donated 2000 packets of chips which I am going to share. I am so glad that no one was injured.”

Williams appealed to anyone with assistance for donations of clothes to contact her on 082 732 6926.