4 days ago
Relief efforts underway after Briardene fire
A FIRE that tore through a part of the Briardene informal settlement recently has left around 25 families destitute.
Ward 36 committee member Innocentia Happiness Mkhwanazi described the moment she arrived on the scene.
'I just saw flames. It was frightening. We started breaking down houses that hadn't yet caught alight to stop the fire from spreading. Houses here are built very close together, so the fire spread quickly,' she said.
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She added that when eThekwini Fire and Rescue arrived, the challenge was accessing water as there are no hydrants close by.
'The firefighters worked very hard to extinguish the flames. Thankfully nobody was injured and no lives were lost,' she added.
While the cause has yet to be confirmed, many residents lost all their belongings, escaping with only the clothes on their backs. In the aftermath, Mkhwanazi converted her soup kitchen into a daily feeding point for the displaced families, with meals provided by organisations including the North Durban Lions Club.
Relief efforts have been co-ordinated by community leader Sam Reddy, with support from the North Durban Lions Club and Leos of North Durban, Round Table of Durban 2, Gift of the Givers, the Slime Workshop, Anchorguard Insurance Brokers, Afrism Foundation, and the Help Me SA App.
A suspected illegal electricity connection is believed to have caused the devastating fire.
Ward 36 councillor Heinz de Boer said the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to formalise the area. He has called on officials for a long-term plan to formalise Briardene, drawing on housing models like Cornubia and Waterloo, to provide proper infrastructure, alleviate fire risks, and address social challenges in the area.
'Briardene has been left by the City for far too long. It's a main transport and access route, and more and more people are moving in. We need proper housing, like Cornubia and Waterloo, with formal infrastructure in place. That's the only way to reduce the risk of fires, address social issues, and instil a sense of pride and ownership,' said De Boer.
Following the blaze, the councillor said he has requested that the City and the National Department of Human Settlements conduct an audit of residents living in the informal settlement and that long-term plans be discussed to transform Briardene into a formal suburb that would be fully integrated into Umgeni Park.
This would require significant budget allocation but could ultimately help address not only fire hazards, but also crime, drug use, and unregulated alcohol sales in the area.
'Efforts should go into building formal homes. We can't continue with a cycle where a candle falls over or an illegal connection sparks a fire, and people lose everything.'
He added that building materials are expected to be delivered soon so that residents can rebuild their homes in the interim.
De Boer added that the support from the people of Durban North, businesses and organisations has been heart-warming.
'The relief effort has been spearheaded by community leader Sam Reddy, with significant support from the Durban North Lions, Round Table, Gift of the Givers, and individual residents. Donations of clothing, household items, and food have poured in, with hot meals prepared daily,' he said.
Donations of clothing, furniture, food, toiletries, and school supplies have poured in from religious groups, non-profits, and individuals across Durban. The community is urged to drop off donations at Durban North Pharmacy or SPAR Brownsdrift.
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