Cailynn Pretorius6 April 2025 | 13:35

Fire at New Rest informal settlement in WC leaves 2 people dead

The inferno broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning, destroying close to 200 structures.

Fire at New Rest informal settlement in WC leaves 2 people dead

Aftermath of a fire at the New Rest informal settlement in Wellington, Western Cape. Picture: Gift of the Givers.

CAPE TOWN - Two people have lost their lives in a fire that engulfed the New Rest informal settlement in Wellington, in the Western Cape.

The inferno broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning, destroying close to 200 structures.

The Drakenstein Fire Department was on the scene, working to extinguish the flames and prevent further damage.

Gift of the Givers’ Ali Sablay said, "Gift of the Givers were called by frantic community members and fire victims pleading for our assistance as the fire is sweeping through the informal settlement. Gift of the Givers team are currently on the ground to do assessments. The fire department is currently extinguishing the last of the flare-ups.”