Residents of Eugene who live in temporary structures under the Mnquma Local Municipality woke up to tragic news on Sunday morning after a fire destroyed several homes in the area.
According to Phiwe Nkondlwana, the ward candidate for the South African Communist Party (SACP), one person died in the fire while another was taken to hospital with injuries. Several families also lost all their belongings and have been left without shelter.
Residents say they were promised proper houses in 2011 when they were relocated from the Bhungeni informal settlement. However, they are still living in temporary structures, many of which have deteriorated over the years and leak when it rains.
The SACP visited the area to assess the damage. Nkondlwana said residents have lived in poor conditions for many years without receiving adequate assistance and accused the government of ignoring the community’s concerns and failing to address their housing challenges.
The party has pledged to intervene and assist those affected by the fire and has appealed to members of the public to donate whatever they can to help the victims rebuild their lives.
