I cannot comprehend the loss that these families have experienced. I am glad to have had the opportunity to speak with the affected families and am grateful that the City can provide them with the physical materials to start rebuilding their homes.

City staff members have been working hard to assist destitute families who have been affected by informal settlement fires in a number of areas across Cape Town.

Operations have been under way and enhanced emergency fire kits are in the process of being issued by Informal Settlements Department staff to all affected. Since 1 December 2019, 72 relocation kits for partially affected structures and 495 enhanced emergency fire kits for structures which were completely destroyed, have been issued.

The enhanced kits consist of 25 zinc sheets; 14 wooden poles which are fire-treated; three packets of nails; a door; door hinges; a window frame and a window. These quality materials provide immediate shelter to the affected families.

The transportation and distribution of these kits has been a major operation. The teams are working hard to issue the kits as soon as possible. Before the kits are delivered, the sites are cleared of debris, levelled if required and an extensive survey and verification process of the affected people is undertaken.

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I would like to thank our staff, including the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, Disaster Risk Management and cleansing teams, and contractors for their commitment to assisting the affected residents in the shortest timeframes possible. Our Informal Settlements Department does excellent work in providing enhanced emergency fire kits to residents affected by fires.

What our teams have managed to achieve under extreme pressure is significant. I could not be more grateful to the informal settlements staff and contractors on the ground for going above and beyond to assist these residents.