Ntuthuzelo Nene4 February 2025 | 5:28

'We need houses': Fire-hit Du Noon community call on govt for proper homes

EWN visited Du Noon on Monday following a series of fires in the township between October and December last year.

'We need houses': Fire-hit Du Noon community call on govt for proper homes

Du Noon residents affected by fires in recent weeks received food parcels from the International WeLoveYou Foundation in partnership with the Western Cape Social Development Department on 3 February 2025. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN

CAPE TOWN - Community leaders in Du Noon, near Cape Town, have called for government to build proper houses for communities constantly hit by fires in Cape Town.
 
EWN visited Du Noon on Monday following a series of fires in the township between October and December last year.
 
The fires have left many families dealing with the trauma of losing house contents and other belongings they've worked hard for.
 
Some families had a bleak Christmas in the township when they woke up to a blaze that destroyed hundreds of homes.
 
Acting ward councillor, Thando Dedezane, said that while building kits came in handy when there were fires, sustainable solutions were needed.
  
"In terms of materials that are fire resistant, materials that can keep a fire within one household before it spreads across. We need to start thinking in that way."
 
Site 5 informal settlement community leader, Zukiswa Kobe, said that they needed proper houses.
 
"We need houses. They must build us houses because it's been a long time that we've been here since 1999."

Meanwhile, community leaders in Du Noon have applauded an international NGO for lending a helping hand to fire victims of Site 5 informal settlements.
 
The International WeLoveYou Foundation donated food parcels to more than 60 families, who were affected by last year's fires in the area.
 
Hundreds of people were left destitute when two fires hit the informal settlement in a space of a week in October into November.
 
Site 5 community leader, Zukiswa Kobe, said that they were glad to see that people had not forgotten about their plight.
 
"We are very happy. We didn't expect this because it happened long time ago and we didn't expect that they will come back. We are very happy, and we are so fortunate to have organisation's like WeLoveYou donating to us."

Acting ward councillor Thando Dedezane echoed her sentiments.

"The assistance that we are getting for these communities from such foundations does go a long way, it doesn't matter how little it is. That toothbrush, that toothpaste, that soap, that underwear, that toy for a child does make a difference at the end of the day."