KZN disaster management teams respond to fire at Kennedy Road informal settlement
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has dispatched Disaster Management Teams to provide relief to the community of Kennedy Road Informal Settlement in Durban, following a devastating fire in the early hours of Saturday.
About 122 shacks were destroyed in the blaze, which tragically claimed the lives of a mother and a one-year-old child.
MEC Buthelezi has extended his condolences to the bereaved family and assured the family of the department’s full support during this difficult time.
Disaster teams are currently on the ground, conducting assessments, offering immediate relief, and coordinating any assistance for the victims.
While the cause of the fire has not been established as yet, MEC Buthelezi has urged the community to exercise extreme caution when using fire to keep warm over this weekend as the province faces cold temperatures and rains due to a cold front.
“On behalf of the provincial government, we extend our deepest condolences to the grieving family. As a department, we are deeply concerned by this incident, which is the fourth of its kind in this area during the current winter season.
We urge communities to exercise extreme caution, especially during colder days when the use of open flames, such as izimbawula and heaters, significantly increases the risk of fires,” said MEC Buthelezi.
Once preliminary assessments are completed, MEC Buthelezi will visit the area on Monday
The South African Weather Service has forecasted cold weather conditions across various parts of the province over the weekend.
MEC Buthelezi has called on communities to remain vigilant when using fire to keep warm. Disaster teams in all municipalities are on high alert, particularly in areas identified as high-risk.
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