Two people perish in Joe Slovo fire

Firefighters discovered the bodies of two persons after a fire broke out at the Joe Slovo Informal Settlement in Milnerton, in the early hours of Wednesday.

COURTESY: Facebook - Anthony Bernadie (ward councillor)

The City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue Service estimates about 45 structures were destroyed. Spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, says a call came through just before midnight on Tuesday, of structures alight in Freedom Way, Joe Slovo.

‘’The first arriving Officer assessed the situation and called on additional resources to combat the blaze. In total we had 10 firefighting resources on scene, with nearly 50 staff members. By 06:10, Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire which, based on initial estimates, destroyed 45 structures – this is to be confirmed by the Disaster Risk Management Centre. Sadly, the bodies of two persons, genders and ages unknown, were found with fatal burn wounds. The cause of incident is still unknown pending an investigation by the South African Police Service.’’

COURTESY: Facebook - Anthony Bernadie (ward councillor)

Humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, says they are providing aid.

‘’ At 5:30AM this morning, the Gift of the Givers team members were awakened by frantic community leaders of Joe Slovo Informal Settlement in Milnerton. The fire spread rapidly in the informal settlement; the area is densely populated, with structures being on top of each other. Our teams are on the ground as the fire department puts out the last of the flare-ups. The estimation from community leaders is that hundreds of structures burned down,’’ said Ali Sablay, Gift of the givers project manager.

 

Done By: Mitchum George