(The Post News)- Gauteng’s Acting MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, visited the Cemetery View informal settlement in Pretoria East on Monday the 23 Of September 2024 , following a fire that ravaged over 800 shacks and displaced approximately 2,600 people. The fire, which occurred early on September 21, 2024, also claimed one life and critically injured others. Tshwane’s Emergency Services responded swiftly, managing to extinguish the fire by 5 a.m. after receiving the alert at 04:07 a.m.
Accompanied by the City of Tshwane MMC for Human Settlements, Councillor Ofentse Madzebatela, MEC Maile assessed the damage and outlined the government’s intervention plan. The MEC revealed that land had already been identified for relocating the affected residents, with engineers assigned to prepare the area for safe habitation. While timelines for relocation are not yet available, Maile urged quick action, stressing the importance of preventing further informal land occupation.
Maile emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between municipal, provincial, and national bodies to address the broader challenge of informal settlements in Gauteng, which he described as bordering on lawlessness. He also reiterated the state’s commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of those impacted by this tragedy.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with officials urging caution among residents regarding the use of paraffin stoves and overloaded electrical systems.
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