DURBAN - One person was reported to have been killed, and 40 others were left homeless when a fire gutted 17 shacks at the Dakota Beach Informal Settlement, south of Durban, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Ward councillor Dharmanand Nowbuth said the report he received from his team said about 17 shacks were destroyed when a fire ripped through the informal settlement around 3am on Sunday.
“One person died and about 40 people are left homeless,” Nowbuth said.
He said he tried to contact disaster management several times but to no avail.
He said the displaced residents needed shelter and food immediately.
Nowbuth said he will also check on whether the residents had food for Monday night, and if not, he would contact private institutions so they can lend a hand.
He said he was left wondering whether disaster management was doing anything to assist because he had not received any communication from them.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said it was alleged that on Sunday, at 4am, police received a complaint of a shack on fire at Dakota Beach informal settlement in Isipingo area.
“Upon arrival at the scene they were informed that five shacks caught fire and a 26-year-old man who was sleeping died. The cause of the fire is unknown and an inquest docket was opened at Isipingo SAPS for investigation,” Gwala said.
Last week, the Daily News had reported that shack dwellers in the Foreman Road informal settlement in Clare Estate are rebuilding their homes after a fire swept through the settlement over the weekend.
Approximately 30 shacks were razed, leaving an estimated 100 people homeless. It is alleged that the fire was triggered by an illegal electricity connection. No deaths were reported.
Daily News