Minister De Lille Dispatches Baby Packs, Food and Blankets to 470 Imizamo Yethu Shack Fire Victims

Patricia de Lille, the Minister for Social Development in the Western Cape, early yesterday morning dispatched departmental personnel to Hout Bay's Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement, which was ravaged by a fire.

The fire began shortly before sunrise.

"After consulting yesterday with community leaders in the area, disaster management and the fire department, we instructed our department-sponsored service provider to deliver baby packs, brunches and blankets to the survivors," MEC De Lille says.

"The Department has provided baby packs, food and blankets in the aftermath of the devastating fire, which destroyed at least 120 wooden and iron structures, displacing 450 adults and 20 children.

It is with great relief that I can say that there were no fatalities, so for the next two days we will be providing hot brunch and dinner to survivors that are not mourning any loved ones," says De Lille.

"Of course, losing all of one's belongings is bad enough. The Department is working with one of our service providers to ensure that those affected are provided with new clothes.

After we have received household claims from the affected families at our Wynberg office, we will process further cash support of R750 per household," De Lille says.

"Our Wynberg office will also determine through their assessment whether anyone requires trauma counseling."