A woman has died and dozens of residents have been affected after a devastating fire swept through an informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, destroying 20 shacks.
The blaze broke out at the Swapo informal settlement in Copsville on Saturday, prompting an emergency response from Msunduzi municipality. KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma later praised municipal officials for their response to the disaster.
Officials Confirm 20 Shacks Destroyed
Initial assessments suggested that 15 structures had been destroyed by the fire.
However, authorities conducted a subsequent verification exercise and established that the actual number of affected shacks was 20.
Duma said officials were working to establish details about the people who had been occupying the structures and their eligibility for government assistance following the disaster.
Woman Dies and Partner Suffers Burns
According to Duma, a woman died during the blaze while her partner sustained burn injuries.
The MEC said both were foreign nationals.
A child was initially reported to have suffered burns during the incident, but Duma later clarified that the child was alive. He said authorities had also established that the child was a foreign national.
Officials have not provided further details about the condition of the injured partner.
Fire Believed to Have Started in Woman’s Shack
The precise cause of the fire had not been officially determined at the time of reporting.
However, preliminary information received by authorities suggested that the blaze originated in the shack occupied by the woman who died.
Officials have not announced whether an investigation has identified an electrical fault, cooking equipment or another potential ignition source.
Authorities Investigate Residents’ Documentation
Duma said authorities established that 19 foreign nationals occupied the shacks affected by the fire.
One person identified as a South African reportedly possessed an identification document that officials were seeking to authenticate.
The provincial government has approached the Department of Home Affairs to verify the document, Duma said.
The MEC also alleged that some South Africans were attempting to act as fronts for foreign nationals so they could qualify for government assistance.
MEC Alleges Shacks Were Being Rented for R250
Another issue raised following the fire concerns the ownership and rental of the destroyed structures.
Duma alleged that a foreign national had been acting as a landlord and collecting R250 in rent for each shack.
He further claimed that the structures had been connected to electricity illegally.
However, the MEC did not identify the alleged landlord or provide details about whether any criminal or municipal investigation into the alleged electricity connections was under way.
Foreign Nationals Ruled Out of Emergency Housing Assistance
Duma used the aftermath of the fire to reiterate the provincial government’s position on housing assistance for foreign nationals.
He said foreign nationals would not qualify for emergency housing assistance, government-provided building materials or Reconstruction and Development Programme houses.
According to the MEC, that approach is consistent with existing government policy governing access to housing support.
The statement means authorities will assess the circumstances and eligibility of affected residents before determining what assistance will be provided.
Government Raises Concerns Over RDP Housing Fraud
Duma also linked the incident to broader concerns about alleged fraud involving state-subsidised housing.
He claimed the Department of Human Settlements had suffered losses exceeding R2 billion as a result of alleged improper sales and rentals of RDP houses to foreign nationals.
According to Duma, the financial impact extends beyond the construction cost of individual properties.
He said public expenditure involved in delivering such housing includes purchasing land, rezoning property for development, preparing housing plans, conducting environmental impact assessments, conveyancing and installing bulk infrastructure.
Duma Says Subsidised Homes Must Remain With Eligible South Africans
The MEC argued that government-subsidised homes can take years to plan and construct and should therefore remain in the hands of eligible South African beneficiaries.
His comments come amid longstanding concerns about the illegal sale and rental of subsidised housing and disputes over access to government housing programmes.
The allegations concerning the occupants, documentation, rental arrangements and housing fraud represent statements made by Duma and would require the relevant authorities to establish individual circumstances where necessary.
Municipality Praised for Emergency Response
Despite the questions raised by the incident, Duma commended Msunduzi municipality for responding to the fire and helping authorities establish the scale of the destruction.
With 20 structures confirmed destroyed, attention is now expected to focus on assisting eligible displaced residents while authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.
The fire has left one woman dead, another person injured and numerous residents without their homes, while also triggering a wider debate about informal housing, illegal electricity connections and eligibility for government housing assistance in KwaZulu-Natal.
