By: Shiyo Nkambule

A flat in Umgeni Road almost turned into ashes last week when neighbouring shacks caught fire.

Nomcebo Zulu, who resides on the ground floor of Phezulu Shelter [the flat], said everything in her apartment was burnt to smolders.

“Everything burnt down, I am not happy with my stay here and I have to move out because last year the whole of the G-Section burnt down and people lost a lot of their property and nobody was refunded,” she said.

Phezulu Shelter residents tried to stop the fire but to no avail, which led to a call for the fire brigade. On their arrival, the fire had already damaged the ground floor flats.

Fire-fighters battle with a blazing fire that left many homeless. Pictures by: Shiyo Nkambule

Station commander of the eThekwini Fire and Emergency Service, Ellen Jackson , said, “We got here as soon as our bell for emergency rang and we tried our best to stop the fire. Vagrants are located here.”

“My dish for the DSTV is totally smashed and unrecognized,” Zulu lamented.

Meanwhile, people turned a blind eye to the shacks that were burnt, only to find that there were vagrants residing there.  The cause of the fire is still unknown, as even the vagrants who stayed in the shacks did not know what caused the flames.