20 shacks destroyed in Pietermaritzburg fire as verification finds most occupants were foreign nationals

By Thapelo Molefe

Twenty shacks were destroyed in a fire at an informal settlement in Swapo, Copsville, Pietermaritzburg, on Saturday, with a subsequent verification process finding that most of the occupants were foreign nationals.

In a statement on Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the number of shacks affected increased from an initial 15 to 20 after uMsunduzi Municipality conducted a verification process to establish the number and identity of people affected.

The verification found that 19 foreign nationals occupied the destroyed shacks, while one South African occupant had an identification document whose authenticity is being questioned.

Duma said the department was engaging the Department of Home Affairs to verify the document.

A female who died in the fire was a foreign national, while her partner, who suffered burn wounds, was also a foreign national.

A child who was initially reported to have suffered burn wounds survived the fire and was also identified as a foreign national.

Duma said the fire started in the shack occupied by the woman and her partner.

The verification also found that a foreign national was the landlord of the shacks and was charging R250 per shack, with the occupants allegedly connected to electricity illegally.

Duma further alleged that some South Africans were fronting for foreign nationals in an attempt to access government assistance following the fire.

He said foreign nationals would not be considered for emergency housing assistance, building materials or Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses.

“We wish to reiterate our position that foreign nationals will never be considered for emergency housing assistance, building material, or RDP houses,” Duma said.

He said this was in line with government policy.

Duma commended uMsunduzi Municipality for its swift response and verification process following the fire.

The MEC also said the