COSATU W Cape statement on Masiphumelele fire disaster

The fire in Masiphumele is a disaster that hit the community and no one can be held to blame for the cause. The way in which the city responded to the crisis exacerbated the problem and added insult to injury for the desperate communities

The tragedy of events is as follows:

The area's design did not facilitate the access of fire trucks to the fires. These are planning issues that should have been addressed a long time ago, but bad planning by the City had not helped. There was also no attempt to get helicopters to fire-bomb the area given the access problems.

When the water truck got there it ran out of water and they made no special plans to get water trucks from other areas as they would with fires in the wealthier areas.

The people who needed temporary shelter were referred to Ocean View Community Centre and the Fishhoek community centre was not made available, because it is in the elite areas. The rebuilding process was not assisted as the City only gave 4 poles and 6 sheets, which is hopelessly inadequate to build a shelter. This demonstrates against the disregard shown by the City to poorer communities.

Both De Lille and Plato ran to the site for photo opportunities, but left our people with less than adequate relief.

The entire management of this crisis by the city has demonstrated complete incompetence and disregard to our people.

Statement issued by Cosatu Western Cape provincial secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, May 3 2011

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