Relief efforts continue after Kennedy Road informal settlement fire kills two, displaces more than 150

In the early hours of Saturday, 19 July, a fire tore through the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban, killing a 25-year-old woman and a 19-month-old and leaving more than 150 people without homes.

Emergency teams from eThekwini Municipality, including Fire and Emergency Services and Disaster Management, responded to the scene shortly after 12.03am on Saturday and worked into the morning to contain the fire.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for transport and human settlements Siboniso Duma reported that the fire originated from a burning candle and destroyed 122 shacks.

The two victims have been identified as Nonhle Mbango (25) and 19-month-old Bandile Zulu, who both suffered fatal third-degree burns. No further injuries have been reported.

Provincial officials have met the bereaved families to offer condolences and support. Mbango, according to the MEC, had recently buried her father.

The displaced families, including 49 children, are either being housed in a local community hall or staying with relatives and friends. The municipality is working to restore disrupted water and electricity services.

Deputy mayor Zandile Myeni visited the area on Saturday to assess the damage and distribute food parcels, blankets and hygiene products. She urged the public to support the victims by donating food, clothing, bedding and building materials.

Disaster response NGO Gift of the Givers, in partnership with eThekwini Disaster Management, was on site by 1am on Saturday to assess the damage and distribute relief. By Saturday evening the team had served 190 hot meals and continued to provide blankets and essentials.

Bilall Jeewa, community liaison officer at Gift of the Givers, who is leading the organisation’s response, told Daily Maverick that the team served dinner on the night of the fire and arranged lunch the next day. On Sunday morning, other NGOs had stepped in to help provide meals.

They were awaiting feedback from the Department of Human Settlements to see what would happen regarding the rebuilding of the structures, before moving to the next step of relief – providing food hampers and hygiene packs. 

Vulnerable settlements

“We’re waiting for the verification process by disaster teams from eThekwini and Cogta to be finalised,” said Duma, who added that a roving team of national, provincial and local officials is working on a plan to speed up the delivery of building materials.

“Kennedy Road informal settlements are always affected by fires and natural disasters such as floods,” Duma noted.

Read more: Durban residents try to rebuild their lives after devastating fire

“Critically, we remain worried about the fact that residents who originally lived there were relocated to the newly built houses in Waterloo and double-story homes just across Kennedy Road.”

In a joint meeting held last week between the MEC, the minister of human settlements and eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba, leaders agreed on the need to enforce by-laws to prevent the unsafe re-establishment of shacks in fire-prone areas like Kennedy Road.

“Notwithstanding these issues, we understand the fact that people are moving to eThekwini and other secondary cities in search of socioeconomic opportunities,” said Duma.

“These are realities that we are grappling with.” DM

If you would like to donate and see what items are required, call Gift of the Givers’ toll-free number: 080 0786 911.