On Monday 15 June 2020, I visited some of the families who were affected by a fire which ravaged informal structures in Witsand, Atlantis over the weekend. This was one of several devastating fires which have occurred in the metro recently.
These families have experienced a tremendous loss, one which I cannot comprehend. I am grateful that the City can provide them with the physical materials to start rebuilding their homes.
While I was at the site yesterday, 10 enhanced fire kits and a relocation kit were issued to the affected families. I am pleased I was able to witness our residents being assisted.
City staff members have been working hard to assist destitute families who have been affected by fires in informal settlements in a number of areas across the metro.
Operations have been underway and kits are in the process of being issued by the Informal Settlements Department staff to all those who have been affected. Since 1 June 2020, 31 relocation kits for partially affected structures and 82 enhanced emergency fire kits for structures which were completely destroyed, have been issued. During this period, the City has also issued 3 206 flood kits.
The enhanced kits consist of 25 zinc sheets; 14 wooden poles which are fire-treated; three packets of nails; a door; door hinges; a window frame and a window. These quality materials provide immediate shelter to the affected families.
The transportation and distribution of these kits to the affected areas is an immense operation. The teams are working hard in very difficult conditions to issue the kits as soon as possible. Before the kits are delivered, the sites must be cleared of debris, levelled if required, and an extensive survey and verification process of the affected people is undertaken.
I would like to thank our staff, including Disaster Risk Management and cleansing teams, as well as contractors for their commitment to assisting the affected residents as timeously as possible. Our Informal Settlements Department works extremely hard to provide enhanced emergency fire kits to residents affected by fires.
Our teams have managed to achieve incredible results in delivering these kits to our residents under extreme pressure. This is significant and I could not be more grateful to the informal settlements staff and contractors on the ground for going above and beyond to assist these residents in these difficult circumstances.
I encourage the residents of Cape Town to be vigilant by ensuring their candles and fires are extinguished before going to sleep in the evening, and to work with the City in an effort to reduce the occurrence of preventable fires.
The South African Social Services Agency is the lead agency for humanitarian assistance.