The City has vowed to arrange temporary accommodation for scores of people left destitute and displaced after an inferno razed through their makeshift homes in Booysens.

Over 700 shacks have reportedly been destroyed by a raging blaze, which sparked off on Friday, 22 January at an informal settlement in the industrial suburb south of Johannesburg. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

The Executive Mayor, Cllr Geoff Makhubo visited the area recently to inspect the extent of the disaster and committed all municipal services to ensure victims restore their lives.

“We will temporarily accommodate families,” says Cllr Margaret Arnolds, the MMC for Community Development.

The MMC for Health and Social Development, Cllr Eunice Mgcina adds that those affected by the fire will be moved to a safe place, and provided with food and clothing.

“I am heartbroken to hear that hundreds of families lost most of their valuables as a result of this horrific fire. Together with the Department of Housing, Transport, Health and Social Development, we shall be assisting these families,” says the Executive Mayor.

Cllr Makhubo notes that families affected by the blaze will be provided with temporary shelter at the local community centre, including food parcels, hygiene packs and other resources to assist them to get back on their feet.

“My thoughts and prayers are with these families following the tragic loss of their valuables that were destroyed in the fire,” he says.

Cllr Makhubo says plans are afoot to de-densify Booysens in a bid to mitigate the sprouting of informal settlements and help poor people adhere to social distancing protocols.

“We will be working together with our internal stakeholders to de-densify the Booysens informal settlement. We have found that 80% of fire victims are non-South Africans, thus we are also working with Home Affairs to assist us with immigration processes,” he explains.​