One dead after fire destroys shacks in Pietermaritzburg settlement

One woman died and two people were seriously injured after a fire destroyed shacks in the Swapo informal settlement in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg, early on Saturday.

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the fire destroyed at least 20 shacks. An earlier provincial statement placed the number at 13 to 14 while response teams were still assessing the scene.

Aid eligibility under verification

The provincial department said teams were working with uMsunduzi Municipality and national human-settlements officials to assist affected residents.

Duma said a verification process identified 19 affected residents as foreign nationals and one person with an identity document that Home Affairs was asked to verify. He said foreign nationals would not receive emergency housing assistance under the applicable government policy.

The MEC also alleged that some South Africans were fronting for foreign nationals to secure state housing assistance. That claim is attributed to Duma and has not been independently established by EBNewsDaily.

The department said the shack where the fire began was occupied by the woman who died and her surviving partner. A child and the partner sustained serious burns and were taken to hospital.

Authorities have not yet published a final technical finding on the cause of the fire.