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Gauteng COGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo has expressed his condolences to the families who lost their homes and their possessions during a fire that spread through the Mangolongolo informal settlement in Denver, Johannnesburg on Saturday.

“It is heartwarming to see how people can reach out to their fellow citizens in their time of desperate need”, said MEC Mamabolo in reaction to the selfless acts of kindness shown by people who rushed to the assistance of the victims in Denver after the destruction caused by the fire.

It is believed that the fire was caused by a traditional stove (better known as an “Imbawula”) that was left unattended in one of the shacks.  70 shacks were destroyed, leaving 115 people homeless and destitute.

Many of these people lost all their belongings including identity documents and birth certificates.

COGTA officials are working together with other departments and NGO’s to replace documentation and provide food and blankets to the affected people. The Department of Home Affairs is helping with ID books and birth certificates.

“Our Disaster Management personnel are on the ground to assist the community to reconstruct their dwellings”: said MEC Mamabolo. He added : “ We still need more people to come forward to render whatever assistance and aid they can , to alleviate the plight of the people in these most unfortunate circumstances:”

Many of these fires can be prevented and many lives saved with the necessary preventative measures in place.  This is exactly one of the reasons why the COGTA Fire & Rescue Services, supported by municipalities, recently embarked on a winter awareness campaign across all Gauteng regions.
The main purpose of these awareness campaigns is to ensure that vulnerable communities have basic knowledge of and understand the dangers of fire as well as the functioning of the emergency services in general, and the fire brigade in particular. The aim is also to mitigate the number and impact of fires within the Gauteng region in particular vulnerable areas such as informal settlement and rural areas.
People who wish to assist the fire Mangolongolo victims in any way possible, can contact Ms Lindo Ngubane from the Disaster Management Centre @ 083 375 8523
Issued by the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Gauteng Provincial Government. For more information contact MotsamaiMotlhaolwa at 079 897 2240

Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government