Cape Town – Hundreds of residents have been left displaced after several shacks caught fire, with the blaze spreading through multiple informal settlements across Cape Town in the Western Cape.
According to the SABC, approximately 150 residents were left homeless after a fire in Overcome Heights, near Muizenberg in the Southern Peninsula, destroyed around 50 structures.
In a separate incident in Khayelitsha, another blaze gutted at least 80 wood and iron structures, leaving hundreds more people displaced.
Ali Sablay, spokesperson for the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers, said teams will be dispatched to the affected areas to deliver humanitarian relief.
“Gift of the Givers Teams are on the ground and will be doing assessments once the site has been cleared to do fire assessments by the Fire Department.
“Gift of the Givers has activated teams to assist at all three fire sites and will be doing a full-scale operation once the fire Department has declared the sites safe”, said Sablay.
Ward 45 Councillor Mandy Marr visited the scene and commended the efforts of Gift of the Givers for their support in assisting the affected residents and provided an update on the situation.
“Gift of the Givers, are always absolutely fantastic for being on site as soon as we have these incidents. The fire fighters are on scene, so far we know that 16 structures have been destroyed.
“So, I will be putting out a call soon for assistance with donations,” said Marr.
Crisis in Church also responded to all three affected areas — Khayelitsha, Overcome Heights, and Atlantis — providing assistance to those impacted by the fires.
The Crisis Response Church Networks are responding to 3 areas: Khayelitsha, Overcome Heights & Atlantis, where devastating fires & sewerage caused 400+ families to evacuate. Please pray for those affected. #UICSA pic.twitter.com/W662BLWKWs
— United In Crisis SA (@UIC_SA) October 17, 2025
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@AFRICANDEMOC
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
