Back To School In Ashes: Du Noon Fire Strips Children Of Homes, Uniforms And Hope

Thousands of children in Du Noon are facing the new school year with nothing after a massive informal settlement fire tore through the area, destroying homes, clothing, food and essential documents.

The blaze, which broke out on Friday, razed more than 1,000 dwellings and displaced an estimated 5,500 people, making it the worst informal settlement fire in the Western Cape since the 2013 Khayelitsha disaster.

Children Left With Nothing as Families Lose Everything

Community leader and fire victim Emihle Kanityi, 28, said children have been among the hardest hit, with many now unable to return to school.

“A lot of children don’t even have uniform to go back to school. They have no stationery, they don’t have anything,” Kanityi said.

She explained that many parents were at work when the fire broke out and could not save any belongings.

“It has been a great loss, and when the fire raged, people were at work and were unable to rescue any belongings.”

Kanityi said some families were away in the Eastern Cape and returned to complete devastation.

“We need food to eat. Other people don’t even have the materials to build their houses because they were away… So we have nothing.”

‘January Is a Very Difficult Month’: Families Plead for Help

Kanityi described the desperation on the ground, saying many residents are surviving with only the clothes they escaped in.

“As you know, January is a very difficult month. As we are sitting here, we have nothing… We don’t even have any clothes to wear. I’m wearing the same clothes that I was wearing yesterday.”

She appealed for donations and criticised those who document the tragedy without offering assistance.

“At this point, we need a helping hand. We don’t need people who are gonna be there and just take a picture of us,” she said.

“The only thing that I’m gonna say is that we are all people. This might happen to us, and tomorrow it might happen to you.”

She urged nearby residents to assist with water, particularly for children and people with disabilities.

School Dreams Burnt as IDs and Birth Certificates Lost

Resident Nomvuzo Mukumela, 47, said the emotional toll on families — especially children — has been devastating.

“More than 5,000 people were left without homes, clothing, food, and some had their IDs and birth certificates burnt,” she said.

“It is a very devastating matter and experience, seeing people lose all their belongings like that.”

Mukumela added that many families had just bought school uniforms, which were destroyed in the fire.

“There are a lot of them that lost even the school uniforms that they bought, so it’s a very sad situation.”

Gift of the Givers Feeds Thousands as Safety Concerns Grow

Gift of the Givers has been providing emergency relief at the site. Founder Imtiaz Sooliman said the devastation rivals the Khayelitsha fire of 2013.

Spokesperson Ali Sablay warned that rebuilding in condemned areas poses serious risks.

“It’s devastation, and one of the worst fears came true when community members started to rebuild structures again in areas that have been condemned,” he said.

“There are still many wires lying around… still sewerage pipes lying around, and community members are not heeding the call from law enforcement.”

Sablay said the organisation is feeding thousands daily. “Gift of the Givers is providing daily meals, 5,000 breakfast, 5,000 lunch, 5,000 supper on a daily basis to the affected families.”

He added that parents are deeply worried about children starting school without documents.

“They want their children away from this devastation, away from the site, as it is unsafe to be here at the moment.”

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has established a Joint Operations Centre in Du Noon to coordinate recovery efforts, spokesperson Charlotte Powell said.

Once residents are registered, lists will be submitted to SASSA, the Provincial Department of Social Development and the National Department of Human Settlements.

Public donations can be dropped off 24/7 at the following fire stations: Goodwood, Roeland Street, Lakeside, Constantia, Hout Bay, Strand, Wynberg and Milnerton.

Mayoral committee member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim said R12 million has been allocated to reblock the area.

“Key City services are on-site and are ready to go,” he said, noting that delays remain due to the absence of a national directive for emergency housing intervention.

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