A major fire in Khayelitsha’s Phakamani Road informal settlement has left hundreds of residents homeless and prompted urgent aid appeals from disaster relief organisations. Picture Credit: Facebook
By Aisha Zardad
Khayelitsha — An urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance has been launched after a devastating fire ripped through the Phakamani Road informal settlement in Khayelitsha over the weekend, destroying more than 170 structures and displacing hundreds of residents, authorities and aid groups said.
The blaze, which broke out early Sunday afternoon, rapidly spread through the densely packed Tsepe Tsepe settlement, leaving families homeless and scrambling for shelter amid widespread destruction. Initial assessments by the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre confirmed that 177 informal structures were destroyed and at least 377 people affected, though community sources suggest the figure could be higher as final counts continue.
Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG) and city officials were on the ground from the first reports, providing emergency aid and support. GOTG spokesperson Ali Sablay described the incident as the largest fire of the current fire season, noting the scale of damage and the sense of shock among those affected. “When we arrived, the extent of the destruction was immediately clear,” Sablay said. “Families have lost nearly everything they owned, and many are in urgent need of basic necessities.”
Local community leader Xoliswa Peters said residents were in despair following the blaze, with many having sought refuge in neighbours’ homes, halls or vehicles as they awaited disaster relief efforts. “Some were at work or church when the fire began,” she said, underlining the sudden and unpredictable nature of the disaster. Peters emphasised that the community urgently requires clothing, bedding, nappies and other essential items, especially with school reopening soon.
The City of Cape Town’s Informal Settlements Management Branch has been coordinating with the national Department of Human Settlements to support rebuilding efforts, while multiple departments, including SASSA and the Department of Social Development, were deployed to assist residents with emergency relief, shelter and welfare support. Officials are also working with local religious and civic groups to provide temporary shelter and food supplies.
Eskom and the City’s Water and Sanitation Department have been activated to attend to infrastructure damage, including restoring electricity, water supply and ablution facilities in the settlement. Efforts to provide interim assistance and stabilise essential services are ongoing, the disaster risk management spokesperson said.
The fire comes at the beginning of the new year, traditionally a period of heightened activity in informal settlements, and many residents are now faced with the added burden of replacing lost belongings while navigating the return to daily routines, including preparations for school. GOTG teams said they will remain on site for the next several days, distributing food, blankets, mattresses and toiletries to those in need.
Officials emphasised that although no fatalities have been reported, the psychological and economic impact of the fire is significant, with families left to rebuild amid limited resources and ongoing hardship. Disaster risk management representatives urged the public to support relief efforts by donating essential items, and to remain vigilant as recovery work continues.
Residents and organisations looking to assist are being directed to contact Gift of the Givers for information on essential items required and drop‑off or support channels, as the affected community begins the long process of recovery and rebuilding.
