Fires savage Western Cape

By Henry Booysen
10 December 2007

In less than 72 hours the Western Cape experienced about 400 fires leaving hundreds of informal settlement residents homeless and in disarray.

After a hot weekend with strong winds areas such as, Atlantis, the West Coast Municipality, Rooi Els, and the Cape Winelands were all affected with blazes.

Two major fires occurred in Khayelitsha making it the area which was the worst hit, reports IOL.

With children strapped to their back, many mothers started rebuilding their homes carrying corrugated iron and nailing planks together.

Zolile Stali, a shop owner and father of six, says he lost all his possession, including Christmas presents he was piling up.

“Everything I do. I do for my children. I bought them presents to make this Christmas special but then this happens. We already live a tough life here and this fire has made it even more difficult.”

Pieter Smit a senior operator at the Cape Town Fire Command and Control Centre says that in 63 hours 381 fires were responded to by 29 police stations.

“People should be careful in this very warm weather and look out for fire,” says Smit.

Nobody had been reported injured.