DHS admits to missing 24-hour response time to assist victims of Nomzamo fire
The national Human Settlements Department has admitted to missing the 24-hour response time to assist those affected by a Christmas Day fire in Nomzamo, Strand, in Cape Town.
A number of homes were destroyed in a fire at the Wag 'n Bietjie informal settlement in Nomzamo, Strand. Picture: Supplied
CAPE TOWN - The national Human Settlements Department has admitted to missing the 24-hour response time to assist those affected by a Christmas Day fire in Nomzamo, Strand, in Cape Town.
At least 13 fires have torn through various informal settlements in the Western Cape since the start of December.
This week, assessments indicate 130 structures were destroyed in Masiphumelele, 64 in Nomzamo, 120 in Dunoon and an early assessment shows about 150 shacks were razed to the ground in Langa on Thursday night.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane visited Nomzamo on Friday to inspect if emergency housing guidelines were being followed.
"Well we are not happy that we couldn't meet the 24-hour disaster management guideline as it indicates that at least we should have been supplying material. We have looked into the blockages and the hindrances of why we didn't meet that."
Simelane said the public holidays this week presented a challenge to response teams.
"It's the weekend already, we had challenges with regard to delivery in terms of material and all the services that we needed because of the holiday in between and the fire that happened really in the morning of Christmas Day."
The minister said that the building materials were due for delivery to the site on Sunday.