More than 5,500 residents were left homeless after a devastating fire tore through the Du Noon informal settlement, destroying over 1,000 dwellings and marking what is believed to be the worst informal settlement blaze in the Western Cape since the Khayelitsha fire of 2013.
Strong winds fuelled the inferno, rendering firefighting efforts extremely difficult as helicopters conducted aerial water bombing while firefighters battled the flames on the ground.
Despite their efforts, the fire razed large sections of the settlement, leaving families traumatised and without shelter.
Founder and chairperson of Gift of the Givers, Imtiaz Sooliman, described scenes of heartbreak as residents returned home to find everything lost.
“Residents returning from an honest day of hard work shrieked in disbelief, sobbing, heartbroken as they watched their life’s possessions disintegrate in front of their very eyes,” Sooliman said in a statement.
He said the emotional toll was immense, with “sadness, anxiety and a sense of loss” felt across the community as people became “refugees in their own space”.
Sooliman paid tribute to emergency responders who worked under extreme conditions.
“Tribute to the firefighters, disaster management teams, helicopter pilots, emergency services and SAPS serving admirably with distinction as committed public servants,” he said.
Gift of the Givers mobilised immediately after the fire broke out, providing support both to emergency workers and displaced residents.
“Gift of the Givers teams were on site immediately the fire commenced, supporting the firefighters with water, energy drinks, energy biscuits and lip ice and being a source of comfort to the residents,” Sooliman said.
According to the organisation, 3,000 displaced residents and 220 emergency personnel were fed on the first night. By the following morning, breakfast had been provided to 3,500 people, with lunch and supper planned for the days ahead.
Calling for national support, Sooliman urged all sectors of society to assist with rebuilding efforts.
“The spirit of our South African Ubuntu certainly has to triumph as we request all tiers of government, corporates and the public to support the development of Du Noon materially and financially,” he said.
He listed urgently needed donations, including building materials, clothing, linen, non-perishable food, hygiene kits, school uniforms, stationery, sanitary pads and diapers.
Donations can be delivered to Gift of the Givers’ permanent office at Cavendish Mall, while financial contributions can be made directly to the organisation to support ongoing relief operations in Du Noon.
Authorities are expected to continue assessing the full extent of the damage as humanitarian support efforts intensify for thousands of displaced residents.
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