KZN residents urged to remain vigilant, as COGTA notes fires becoming more frequent in province
The warning comes after a blaze damaged more than 100 homes at the Dakota informal settlement in Isphingo earlier on Tuesday.
Residents inspect the damge caused by a fire at the Dakota informal settlement in Isphingo, KwaZulu-Natal on 8 July 2025. Picture: KZNCOGTA/Facebook
JOHANNESBURG - KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) residents were urged to remain vigilant, as fires were becoming more frequent in the province.
The warning comes after a blaze damaged more than 100 homes at the Dakota informal settlement in Isphingo earlier on Tuesday.
The department said that disaster teams had responded to similar events across the province since June.
The cooperative governance and traditional affairs department in KwaZulu-Natal said that more than 200 families had lost their homes as a result of the fire that broke in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Preliminary findings revealed that the blaze could have originated from a braizer, which was likely used for warmth during the cold morning temperatures.
The department said that since June, its teams had addressed similar incidents across the province.
Spokesperson Senzelwa Mzila said that the department had introduced interventions to help mitigate such occurrences.
"The department has introduced interventions such as distributing smoke alarms, fire beaters and knapsack tanks to communities."
He added that several options are being considered to accommodate the affected families.