Infrastructure
(1) (a) What is the number of shack fires that have been reported in the province in (i) 2017 and (ii) 2018 and (b) what (i) are the names of the settlements engulfed by fire, (ii) is the number of households affected, (iii) is the number of deaths reported per incident and (iv) is the number of people displaced per incident;
(2) what are the support measures that are provided by (a) his Department and (b) each municipality in province to (i) prevent and (ii) respond to informal settlements fires and (iii) support victims?
[1][a][b] No data available for 2017 and 2018 from the Department of Local Government [DLG], Municipal Fire Brigade Services or Disaster Management.
[1][b][a] My Department employs a partnership-based approach working with other spheres of government, sister departments, NGOs, tertiary institutions, and other relevant stakeholders on various interventions to mitigate [prevent] fire risks, respond to fires and assist victims of fires within informal settlements.
[1][b][i][ii][iii] My Department has been utilising its Human Settlements Development Grant [HSDG], OPSCAP, and Emergency Housing Grant [EHG] to provide interim relief in the form of fire kits and relocation assistance to victims of fire disasters. Emergency Housing assistance has also been provided to families whose formal houses have been destroyed by fires.
[2] My Department, in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch’s Fire Engineering Research Unit [FireSUN], developed a report and guidelines [2021] to improve fire safety in informal settlements, including fire safety interventions for backyarders.
Municipalities throughout the Province also provide the following fire-related assistance:
- Roll out of fire-kits and disaster-relief kits, blankets where possible;
- Roll out of emergency services, water tankers, and chemical toilets where appropriate;
- Allocation of municipal land were available for interim relief or temporary decanting purposes;
- Approved fire protection readiness plans;
- Review of Disaster Management Plans;
- District Municipalities assist with ward-based risk assessments;
- Installation of smoke detectors pending funding availability.
Further to the support offered by my Department, The Department of Local Government [DLG] administers the Fire Brigade Services Act and associated legislation on behalf of the Western Cape Government and assists municipalities throughout the province by supporting and co-ordinating Fire & Rescue Services.
The DLG also supports the following activities:
- Reduce local risk through prevention and awareness;
- Improve local planning and preparedness;
- Improve the fire and rescue services’ capability to respond to all hazards;
- Improve the Fire Brigade Services' professional status.
