• More than 60 shacks were destroyed in two separate fires in Dunoon, leaving hundreds homeless.

• Gift of the Givers steps in with hot meals and blankets as residents ask for more help.

The Western Cape has witnessed another two informal settlement fires within a week, following last week’s New Year’s Eve fire at Stellenbosch’s Kayamandi.

Two fires ripped through the Dunoon informal settlement in Cape Town on the same day, destroying dozens of shacks and leaving hundreds of people with nothing.

Community leader Xoliswa Mbetheni told Scrolla.Africa they’ve been dealing with fires since November 2024.

“While we were busy attending the Site 5 fire, we received a call from Siyahlala informal settlement informing us about the fire,” she said.

The Site 5 fire started in a tenant’s room while they were at work. The landlord only noticed when the flames were already out of control.

“This is the fourth fire incident in the same area since November last year, and the same number in Siyahlala. The sad reality is that we are still waiting to hear about more similar incidents because that’s what always happens throughout January and February,” said Mbetheni.

She said some residents who lost everything in previous fires have now lost their donated items too. “We are still asking for donations as we continue being under attack by fire,” she added.

Ali Sablay from Gift of the Givers said they rushed to help after receiving a call at 9:25am.

“Our teams are currently on the ground to assess the number of structures affected. Our teams will provide immediate assistance in terms of hot meals and blankets, and we will also provide further humanitarian aid to the fire victims,” he said.

Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said they received many calls about the first fire at about 9:20am.

“At around 10:10, the spread of the fire was contained. Thirty firefighters extinguished the blaze by 12:00. Our initial assessment is that approximately 20 structures have been affected,” he said.

Then at 1:30pm, another fire started near Mnandi Street in Site 5. Firefighters contained it by 2:30pm. Nobody was hurt or killed in either fire.

Pictured above: Dunoon residents left homeless after the fire incident destroyed their homes in two separate incidents in Cape Town.

Source: Supplied