Kayamandi, Stellenbosch – An eight-year-old child has tragically died and over 120 residents have been left homeless following a devastating fire that ripped through the Zone O Informal Settlement in Kayamandi, near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
According to SABC News, the blaze broke out late Sunday night and quickly spread through the densely populated area, destroying 43 makeshift homes. The young victim’s grandmother was critically injured and is receiving medical treatment.
The incident is part of what humanitarian aid groups are calling a worrying increase in winter fires in informal settlements, where residents are more vulnerable due to poor housing, lack of infrastructure, and exposure to extreme weather conditions.
Ali Sablay, spokesperson for humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers, confirmed the fire and described the situation as deeply heartbreaking.
“This fire is part of a growing trend of winter fires in informal areas. Families are losing everything in minutes — their homes, their memories, their dignity,” he said.
Sablay added that Gift of the Givers has mobilised resources to provide immediate relief to the affected families. “We are providing hot meals, bottled water, hygiene packs, baby care items and blankets to those affected. We are working closely with local authorities and community leaders to ensure aid reaches the people who need it most,” he said.
As temperatures continue to drop in the Western Cape, residents in informal settlements face not only the cold, but the real danger of fire-related disasters. Many homes are constructed from highly flammable materials such as wood, cardboard and plastic sheeting, which can ignite easily and burn rapidly.
Several displaced residents have now taken temporary shelter with neighbours, in churches, or at community halls. Others are sleeping outside, exposed to the cold and without basic necessities.
“We were all sleeping when we just saw flames. We ran out, we didn’t even grab anything,” said one resident, who lost her home in the fire.
Community leaders are urging the government to provide long-term solutions to prevent these recurring disasters, especially during the harsh winter months.
The fire occurred just as the South African Weather Service warned of another cold front expected to hit the Western Cape this week, bringing heavy rain, gale-force winds, and plunging temperatures. This will further worsen the situation for those who have been displaced.
Humanitarian groups and local officials are now working around the clock to coordinate relief efforts, while calling for greater government investment in informal settlement infrastructure, including fire safety education, access to water, and emergency response systems.
“The government must do more to formalise and upgrade these areas. We are seeing this every year. It is no longer just an emergency — it’s a crisis,” said a local councillor.
This tragedy in Kayamandi highlights the urgent need for coordinated intervention to protect vulnerable communities from fire disasters — particularly in informal settlements across South Africa. As humanitarian organisations step in to offer emergency relief, pressure is mounting on authorities to deliver long-term infrastructure and safety improvements.
