On the night of May 2nd a massive fire swept through Masiphumelele township. It started just after midnight and grew rapidly as the strong wind fuelled it. Firemen were only able to contain it six hours later. When the sun rose, almost 1500 shacks had been burnt to the ground – around 4000 people displaced.
The fire moved with such speed that many residents had hardly any time to pack their belongings before they were forced to flee their homes. It is a miracle that only one person has died.
The PASSOP help desk office, which was intentionally located in the heart of the township in order to foster close community ties and real ownership of the project, was also badly damaged by the fire. Our neighbours and volunteers poured water on our office for hours in the middle of the night to try to save as much as they could. We are humbled and proud of their commitment to PASSOP and feel touched to have been welcomed into the community to such an extent.
The majority of the shacks around the PASSOP office are completely burned down. Although the Disaster Management Department of the Provincial Government is providing food and some materials to rebuild the homes, most people have lost the majority of their household items. We want to help the community as much as we can in these hard times, so we are calling on the public to donate whatever second hand items (clothes, furniture, appliances, etc.) they can spare.
If you have any second hand items to donate, please drop these off at our Wynberg office at 37 Church Street.
If you are willing to donate money to the cause of rebuilding the homes in Masiphumelele, you can donate to the following account:
Account Name: PASSOP
Bank: Nedbank
Account Type: Current
Account #: 1048074730
Branch Code: 104809, Rondebosch
Please make the reference for such donations ‘Fire victims’.