Gift of the Givers steps in as fire guts Vrygrond homes

Humanitarian aid group Gift of the Givers on Monday said its teams were on the ground assisting with a fire in Vrygrond, where the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services were dousing a number of burning informal structures in Capricorn and Overcome Heights.

City Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said firefighters were able to contain the blaze just before 11am, but the fire had not been fully extinguished.

“Initial estimates are that several dozen structures have been affected. The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre says they will confirm totals once a formal assessment has been completed. At this stage, no injuries or fatalities have been reported, and the cause of the fire is unknown,” said Carelse.

Exploding gas canisters are hampering Gift of the Givers from accessing informal settlements in Vrygrond.

The organisation's spokesperson, Albi Sablay, said access to the site remains restricted due to the ongoing danger posed by exploding gas bottles.

"Once the fire site has been declared safe by emergency services, Gift of the Givers will immediately activate humanitarian assistance, including the provision of hot meals and bottled water to affected residents."

Sablay added that Gift of the Givers teams are also assisting fire victims in Imizamuyethu and Mbokweni after fires in those areas over the Christmas period.