---
title: "Philippi community blames blackouts for fire that left hundreds homeless"
description: "Fire and rescue say no evidence points to rolling blackouts as a cause for the blaze but cautions residents to switch off appliances during these times."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "GROUNDUP"
author: "Sandiso Phaliso"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/sandiso-phaliso/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-10-philippi-community-blames-blackouts-for-fire-that-left-hundreds-homeless/"
published: "2023-02-10T13:07:38"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 314
---

# Philippi community blames blackouts for fire that left hundreds homeless

> Fire and rescue say no evidence points to rolling blackouts as a cause for the blaze but cautions residents to switch off appliances during these times.

By Sandiso Phaliso · Published 10 February 2023, 15:07 SAST

## Key points
- Over 300 people are homeless after a devastating fire gutted their shacks in the Never-Never informal settlement in Philippi East, Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon. Residents believe rolling blackouts caused the blaze, but Fire and Rescue Service says there is not enough evidence to confirm this. No injuries were reported, but many lost IDs, passports, school stationery and uniform as well as all their furniture. 130 dwellings were destroyed and the fire was only extinguished at 10pm. City Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said 333 persons have been affected. Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse urged residents to be cautious when using appliances during power outages. Never-Never residents are now pleading with the government for relocation due to overcrowding and lack of infrastructure such as formal roads or stormwater drainage.
- Over 300 people are homeless after a fire gutted their shacks in Never-Never informal settlement in Philippi East, Cape Town.
- Residents believe rolling backouts are the cause behind the fire, however, fire and rescue say there is not enough evidence to show this.
- No injuries were reported but residents have lost their belongings including IDs, passports, school stationery and uniform as well as all their furniture.
- Never-Never residents are now pleading with the government to relocate them because the area is overcrowded and there are no formal roads or stormwater drainage.

## Content

Over 300 people are homeless after a fire gutted their shacks at Never-Never informal settlement in Philippi East, Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon.

Residents believe rolling backouts are the cause behind the fire, however, fire and rescue say there is not enough evidence to show this. No injuries were reported.

The fire victims said they lost their belongings including IDs, passports, school stationery and uniform as well as all their furniture.

Thumeka Mninzi said she returned from work to find her home completely gutted. “All I am left with is what I’m wearing. I don’t know how I’m going to start afresh. This fire is devastating,” she said.

Lungelo Lisa said, “If it was not for rolling blackouts, we would not be without our homes. One of our neighbours left a stove on while cooking when rolling blackouts started. When the electricity came back on, the stove was on and a fire started.”

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Police referred all our questions regarding the fire to the City of Cape Town.

![A child walks through the rubble where many shacks were gutted in a fire on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Sandiso Phaliso)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/hAo_HEt92tDJ4ME131dHb29L0Lw=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/img_20230208_184852_1.jpg)

*A child walks through the rubble where many shacks were gutted in a fire on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Sandiso Phaliso)*

City Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell told *GroundUp* the blaze destroyed 130 dwellings and 333 persons have been affected.

Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for Fire and Rescue Service, said they received the call at 4:20pm and firefighters only managed to extinguish the blaze at 10pm. He said there was no evidence that rolling blackouts had caused the fire but urged residents to be cautious and to ensure their appliances are switched off during these times.

Never-Never residents are now pleading with the government to relocate them because the area is overcrowded and there are no formal roads or stormwater drainage. The only communal sanitation facilities are water taps and toilets. **DM**

*First published by*[*GroundUp*](https://www.groundup.org.za/article/community-blames-loadshedding-for-fire-that-left-300-people-homeless/)*.*

![Image](https://thirdpartyhits.groundup.org.za/counter/hit/dailymaverick/2023-02-10-community-blames-loadshedding-for-fire-that-left-300-people-homeless/)