A devastating fire swept through the Cemetery View informal settlement in Pretoria on Saturday night, leaving three people dead and more than a thousand others homeless. The fire was first reported to the Tshwane Emergency Services shortly after 20:00.
When the emergency response team arrived at the scene, they found at least 400 homes engulfed in flames, with residents desperately seeking shelter away from the inferno.
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Tragically, among the victims was a 5-year-old girl whose life was cut short in this tragic incident. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but authorities suspect that paraffin, which was commonly used for cooking purposes by many residents, may have played a role. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
The fire was finally extinguished around 23:00 on Saturday night, but emergency teams remained on site until early Sunday morning to prevent any potential flare-ups. The area is now an active crime scene, and the police have taken over the investigation.
Ward councillor Malcolm de Klerk, who witnessed the devastating scene, expressed his sorrow at seeing residents helplessly watching their homes being consumed by the flames. Many of these residents have called the densely populated Cemetery View settlement their home for over seven years.
According to de Klerk, the fire has left at least 1,000 people without a place to stay. Shockingly, these displaced residents have not been provided with alternative shelters for the time being. Some of them have already begun rebuilding their homes as they have nowhere else to go.
However, de Klerk emphasized that rebuilding the site is problematic as it is still an active crime scene. Moreover, it remains unclear if the bodies found are related to the fire. The councillor revealed that multiple houses in the settlement were equipped with stoves that require paraffin for cooking, and neighbouring communities reported numerous gas bottle explosions during the incident.
Thankfully, the humanitarian organization SA Cares has been on the ground, providing assistance to the affected individuals. However, de Klerk stressed the need to secure the area to facilitate mop-up operations and ensure everyone is accounted for. Emergency services are still present at the scene.
The police have been approached for comment, and their response will be added once received.
