A devastating fire ripped through a section of Cissie Gool House, formerly the Woodstock Hospital, in the early hours of Monday morning, displacing dozens of residents and reigniting criticism of the City of Cape Town’s approach to housing, emergency preparedness and informal communities.

According to the City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, an emergency call was received at 3.35am, reporting the fire at the Mountain Road property in Woodstock.

Fire crews from Roeland Street, Sea Point, Salt River and Milnerton stations were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, they encountered flames engulfing the first floor, with the fire having broken through the roof. Aerial firefighting equipment had to be deployed to contain the blaze.

“Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze by 7am,” said Carelse.

“Thankfully, no injuries were reported thanks to the swift response by both residents and emergency personnel.

“A building inspector has been requested to assess whether the structural integrity has been compromised. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.”

While the official displacement figure has not yet been confirmed, GOOD Party councillor Roscoe Palm and community activists say the fire has left closer to 50 people without shelter, bedding, or clothing, just as winter begins to bite.

In a strongly worded statement, Palm condemned the City’s failure to engage with the Cissie Gool House community and blamed the fire’s impact on “the continuing refusal to acknowledge and support” the hundreds of families living in the repurposed public hospital.

“This is not the first fire at Cissie Gool House. It is, however, another painful reminder of the City of Cape Town’s failure to provide basic safety infrastructure,” Palm said.

“The ongoing absence of essential fire safety equipment is a direct result of negligence. Residents have long requested fire extinguishers and basic services. The City has ignored them.”

Palm called on the City’s Disaster Management department to urgently provide trauma relief, blankets, warm clothing, and food for those displaced, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children.

“They are not invisible. They are not ‘hijackers.’ They are residents. Taxpayers. Human beings,” he said.

“Cissie Gool House has become a refuge for those displaced by systemic housing failures and the gentrification of Woodstock. This disaster did not have to happen.”

Reclaim the City, the housing activist movement supporting Cissie Gool House residents, confirmed that the fire was initially contained to one section of the building but flared up again later in the morning.

“We thank those who continue to support this resilient and courageous community. We call on the City to act, not with evictions, but with empathy. This is a time for solidarity,” the movement said in a statement.

Emergency accommodation has since been arranged in communal halls within the building. But many families remain without critical supplies.

Some elderly residents with chronic health conditions now face winter temperatures with no mattresses, blankets, or warm clothing. Cooking gas and household supplies were also lost in the fire.

Reclaim has urgently called for donations.

To help those affected, the community has issued an urgent appeal for both financial support and in-kind donations.

Bank donations can be made to:

Standard Bank

Account Name: Reclaim the City

Account Number: 16-625-313-8

Branch Code: 020909

Reference: Fire Aid

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In-kind donations needed: Blankets, mattresses, pillows; warm clothing for all ages; toiletries (soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads, washcloths)

Dry and fresh food (e.g. rice, pasta, vegetables) Cooking gas and emergency repair materials.

Drop-off location: Cissie Gool House, 77 Mountain Road, Woodstock, Cape Town

For more information or to arrange donations, contact: Denver Arendse: 067 150 7143 or Elaine Diedericks: 079 728 6513

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