Families in Polar Park informal settlement in Philippi, Cape Town are still reeling in shock after they watched in anguish as their homes burnt to ashes in the early hours of Sunday morning. One of the residents Nosiviwe Sonjica was visiting family with her children in Khayelitsha when she received a call from a neighbour about a fire that burnt down over 200 shacks, including hers. A woman was also burnt to death in the fire.
LOSING EVERYTHING
Nosiviwe (34) and her two children, Asavela (10) and Luyanda (7) are currently homeless and living with a relative. "When I got a job at the beginning of last year, I took my kids from home and moved in with them, so we can have peace of mind. But we have lost it all in a few hours," Nosiviwe tells Zimoja. She is now back where she started, having to rebuild her shack and start afresh. Nosiviwe says she also had items to take back home to Cala in the Eastern Cape in January. "I saved some money and bought a few things for the home, but they have all burned down." With schools reopening in less than two weeks, Nosiviwe is worried her children won't have anything to wear as their uniform was destroyed in the fire. "I am lucky that we are still alive and we did not die in the fire. Someone lost her life. The rest, we will manage."
THE HORRIBLE BLAZE
On that awful night, the City of Cape Town's fire and rescue spokesperson ,Jermaine Carelse, says a woman sustained fatal burn wounds and the fire crews were alerted to the fire at 02:40 am. "Several crews were dispatched and the first arriving officer confirmed that numerous structures were burning," Carelse says. "The fire was brought under control at about 06:00," Carelse says the cause of the fire is unknown while residents suspect that the fire started at the deceased woman's house. Gift of the Givers also received calls from members of the community requesting urgent help. Ali Sablay, of the humanitarian relief organisation, says they arrived at a horrific scene."The place had burned to the ground and people lost everything. When we arrived, and people saw the Gift of the Givers vehicles, they ran towards us asking for help."
