Durban - At least 250 shacks burnt down in Clare Estate informal settlement on Sunday at about 1am.
The fire was allegedly caused by a resident, who was believed to be drunk and started cooking but left the stove unattended.
Residents who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed they had been reprimanding the resident (who is alleged to have started the fire) for the longest time but it felt like their words fell on deaf ears, as he continued until the incident.
“He usually comes back drunk, starts cooking and falls asleep leaving the stove unattended. We’ve on many occasions warned him about this behaviour, but he wouldn’t listen. We’ve lost everything because of him,” said a resident.
Aphiwe Mdatja had a creche that catered for at least 30 children, which turned into ashes because of the fire.
She said she established the daycare centre after years of trying to find employment with her early childhood development (ECD) certificate.
“When I struggled with finding a job, I poured all my savings into opening this centre which was burnt to the ground,” Mdatja said.
“My daycare was affordable, I helped take care of the children in this area, I also taught them because I have an ECD certificate. I could see a child, from a very young age, where they were lacking and I would work on that. All the blood, sweat and tears I put into making this a dream have vanished,” she added.
Community members said having been saved during the floods, this was just as hard – their children could not go to school as most of their uniforms were burnt.
Thandeka Ngcobo, a mother of three, said the only thing that came to her mind when she woke up with smoke all over the place, was her children. She could not save anything besides her children and her ID.
“I’m shaken, I still cannot believe this happened. We are grateful for life? Maybe it could have been worse. I’m just glad my children are okay even if we don’t know where we are going to sleep but at least we are okay,” said Ngcobo.
Yonela Gamede said she was sleeping when the incident happened, and she was one of those who alerted others.
“I woke up, with smoke all over the place. I tried using a bucket of water to stop the fire but I realised that the damage was already out of hand so I opted for waking people up.
“I only took a few clothes I could not take some of my belongings as time was not on my side,” she said.
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, said their disaster management team was on the ground to see how they can help the residents who lost their shelters.
“The team is going to erect two tents and NGOs have been mobilised to assist with hot meals,” said Mayisela.
He urged residents, especially ones in informal settlements, to be extra cautious when using fire as the city was prone to runaway fires.
No fatalities were reported, and none of the residents were harmed.
Daily News