Masiphumelele informal settlement fire: Residents face bleak Christmas

CAPE TOWN - Residents of Masiphumelele near Kommetjie are facing a bleak Christmas after a blaze ripped through the informal settlements on Monday.

Cape Town fire crews responded to a call of burning structures after 4am.

The fire has been put out and no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

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Humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers is on the ground providing help to those affected.

Ali Sablay has described the situation as total carnage.

"One mother informed us that she just received her bonus three days ago and she purchased her child's school uniform and got her food parcel from a stokvel, all that is completely burnt out. She's worried what she's going to feed her family over the next few days.

'Another mother telling us how she managed to buy her child in grade 3 his first pair of school shoes, so you can just imagine how high the emotions are at the moment, and we are two days away from Christmas."