A TOTAL of 211 people including children are left homeless after the white marquee tent situated opposite the Maitland cemetery in Voortrekker Road which housed refugees went up in flames on Thursday.
The tent was home to foreign nationals who lived there after they were evicted from the Cape Town CBD during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Services, Jermaine Carelse said that at around 5pm on Thursday, 6 November, the Fire and Rescue Service received several emergency calls of informal structures.
He confirmed that the white marquee tent and several other structures have been destroyed but thankfully no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
The Animal Welfare Society, meanwhile, confirmed that hoenders kept by the residents also died in the fire.
Resident Faraja Augustine, originally from the Republic of Congo, said the situation is dire.
Faraja said that he first lived in Greenmarket Square with his family when they were moved to the white tent during the pandemic and had been living there since.
He explained: “We still do not know what caused the fire.
"We use wood to cook on the fire and our kitchen is outside in those small shacks. I just heard ‘fire fire’ and when I came out, I saw the kitchen was already burning so I assume the fire started at those kitchens.
"We tried throwing water and using the fire extinguishers, but due to the wind it made the situation worse and the fire spread to the tent.”
“We lost everything. We are getting food and water from the Gift of the Givers and volunteers are helping with clothes.
"For two days we slept outside by the graveyards, we had to move back to where we were because it is going to be busy at the graveyard with funerals.”
“I have a wife and four children who are all in school. They could not go to school on Friday because we lost their uniforms and schoolbooks.”
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Charlotte Powell said authorities will coordinate efforts to assist those affected.
She added: “Disaster Management Officers are on scene to conduct preliminary assessments and collate the necessary information. Gift of the Givers is on scene, to assist with immediate humanitarian assistance.
"Structures on the perimeter of the site are intact. Persons who stayed in the fire affected tents and structures have the option of returning to the perimeter structure or staying with friends or family off site.
DRM is also liaising with shelters and safe spaces to determine the availability of bed spaces as a third option.”
Spokesperson for The Disaster Risk Management, Sonica Lategan said they have activated a number of organisations to assist in the aftermath of the fire.
These include, SASSA, Department of Social Development, NGOs for soft relief and clothing, the Department of Home Affairs, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the City’s Street People Unit.