Flames rip through the Gaatjie informal settlement in Diep River, leaving eight families homeless and 32 people displaced.
A fire has left eight families homeless and displaced more than 30 individuals in the Gaatjie informal settlement in Diep River, following an incident on Thursday evening, July 23.
The blaze destroyed homes, valuable possessions, and essential identity documents. As a result, children are without school uniforms, stationery, or even a change of clothes. Community members are now making urgent appeals for donations to assist the victims in rebuilding their lives.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Service, said the blaze was reported at around 6pm after structures caught alight in the Gaatjie Informal Settlement off Mocke Road.
"An estimated total of eight structures were destroyed, and the adjacent Poly Oak office block sustained exterior damage as well as broken windows due to the radiated heat. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still undetermined. An estimated total of 32 persons were displaced," he said.
