Six people were killed and two missing in a devastating fire in the early hours of Sunday morning whichdemolished approximately 1000 informal housing structures in the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langanear Cape Town.
Thousands of people were once again left homeless. After the last fire in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay I haveheld a series of meetings with provincial Ministers and senior officials from their departments, as well as theMayor of the City of Cape Town with the aim of finding a long-term solution to these fires. This will be anongoing process, but it is clear that more urgency is now required.
On behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape I want to extend heartfelt sympathy andcondolences to the Joe Slovo community and the families of the people who were killed.
I have been briefed by the Disaster Management component of the Department of Local Government and hasbeen informed that the Disaster Management component of the City of Cape Town as primary implementingagent has the situation under control.
Once again the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are involved to assist with blankets, food and shelter andthey, as well the City of Cape Town must be thanked for their invaluable role in times like these.
