Abahlali: Land for shack dwellers could quell fires
Shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo says shack fires could be prevented if more land is made available.
On Wednesday morning, firefighters rushed to an informal settlement in Effingham Heights in Durban North after a blaze engulfed homes.
READ: Yet another shack fire in Durban North
No injuries have been reported and it's not yet clear how many families are affected.
The ward councillor says it's the third fire there in a space of two weeks.
On Monday, around 50 shacks in the nearby Sea Cow Lake area were razed to the ground in another fire.
ALSO READ: At least 50 shacks destroyed in Durban North fire
Abahlali baseMjondolo president Sbu Zikode says the government should provide land where people can spatially build their own homes.
"Then these kinds of shack fires can be addressed, but also providing basic services such as access to water, sanitation but also the installation of electricity in settlements so that people can no longer use candles and paraffin stoves which are often explosive which are the main cause of shack fires.
"I must say that we are also concerned that we are heading into the winter season and we can expect more and more shack fires of this nature."
