Fires devastate Masiphumelele and Imizamo Yethu settlements

Nearly 160 informal structures were destroyed by separate fires in Imizamo Yethu and Masiphumelele on Saturday and early this morning.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services were alerted to a blaze in Masiphumelele. A team of 31 firefighters, supported by five fire engines and three water tankers, was dispatched to the scene to combat the flames.

City Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Frank Forbay confirmed that no injuries were reported, though the cause of the fire remains unknown.

"The fire spread into the reeds next to the informal settlement, but by 05:30 the fire was contained," Forbay stated. "Currently, there are still two fire engines on the scene, monitoring the area of reeds for flare-ups."

This incident followed a major fire in Imizamo Yethu yesterday afternoon, where 60 firefighters were deployed to tackle the inferno.

The operation proved difficult as crews battled strong winds and faced interference from some community members. Despite these challenges, the blaze was eventually brought under control at approximately 6:00 pm.