Sanelisiwe Nhlangulela

Shack settlements face fire hazards almost in a daily basis in South Africa.

According to Informal Settlements Fires, it is reported that in 2018 the statistics of burning of shacks was ten shacks fires a day with someone dying in a shack every other day.

While Gerhard Olivier from Medical Research report claims that 3.2% of the South African population, succumbs to death of shack fires. He continued by saying. “An overview of the problem is the large populations of people migrating to urban areas, without any settlements to dwell on. They consider building temporary shacks on vacant lands. Which leads to breakage of fires, may it be caused by a candle because of lack of electricity on their informal settlement”.

It was reported last week, a fire breakage caused by shack fire on the outskirt of Pietermaritzburg central. In a place called ‘kwajikajo’, where many stranded dwellers from across the country are residing there. Some of them came in this town in other to make a living for their families.

Nicolas Mofokeng, has been a resident for almost 15 years in this residential. He said, “I came in South Africa from Lesotho in order to make a living and provide for my family. We pleading with the government to provide us with houses, dwelling on a shack is a challenge”.

He continued by saying, although none of his fellow residents succumbed any injuries but it was a close call.

Picture: Daily Maverick