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Communities across Cape Town are reeling after a series of devastating fires destroyed hundreds of homes in December, leaving families in Dunoon, Nomzamo in the Strand, Masiphumelele, and Langa homeless. Mayoral Committee Member for the Human Settlements, Councillor Carl Pophaim is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Human Settlements National Minister Thembisile Simelane to urgently devolve the Emergency Housing Grant (EHG) to The City of Cape Town, enabling quicker responses to emergencies of this magnitude.
Initial assessments reveal the scale of destruction: 130 homes were destroyed in Masiphumelele, 64 in Nomzamo, 120 in Dunoon, and approximately 150 in Langa. The Langa fire occurred on December 26, with final damage assessments still ongoing. The fires have left hundreds of families without shelter during the festive season, prompting urgent appeals for national government intervention.
The City’s Human Settlements Directorate has already submitted data to the National Department of Human Settlements, highlighting the needs of affected residents. However, city officials argue that devolving the Emergency Housing Grant would allow local authorities to respond to housing crises within 24 hours, ensuring displaced residents receive support swiftly.
In the meantime, relief organizations such as Gift of the Givers have stepped in to provide essential assistance. The City’s disaster risk management teams and other frontline workers remain on the ground, supporting residents where possible and monitoring the situation.
The City of Cape Town emphasizes the importance of quick action from the national government to address the housing crisis and bring relief to those affected by the fires. For more updates, visit the City of Cape Town website.
