Disaster Risk Management officials are conducting an assessment to determine the extent of damage following a fire that occurred overnight in Imizamo Yethu. The fire was reported at around midnight on Christmas night.

No fatalities were reported, and the fire gutted approximately fifty structures, leaving around 80 residents of the Petersen Section of IY homeless.

The City’s assessment will aim to confirm the exact number of structures and persons affected for onward submission to SASSA and the Department of Social Development.

Other City Departments have also been activated to check whether there has been any damage to City infrastructure, clear fire debris and coordinate efforts to help the affected residents rebuild their structures.

Humanitarian relief partners, including Gift of the Givers, are on scene to deliver immediate assistance to those in need.

Ward Councillor Rob Quintas has thanked the various fire services and City law enforcement agencies who were present to rapidly extinguish the blaze and maintain order.

This, he says, ensured that the fire was addressed before it could reach a magnitude similar to previous incidents.

“My thoughts and prayers are with those who have experienced trauma and loss over this tragic event on Christmas night, and I thank the many service men and women who will now step in to restore, repair and assist.”

The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and more details will be provided as they are received.

Quintas has encouraged all residents to be cautious and vigilant when using fire in residential or public environments.

“This season is unfortunately synonymous with fire incidents in homes and nature settings and the first step to fire prevention begins with awareness and personal safety responsibility.”

Meanwhile, Gift of the Givers teams have also been activated at the Mbekweni Informal Settlement in Paarl, where a second fire in less than a week erupted.

In addition, Gift of the Givers teams also responded to a fire in Vygieskraal, Manenberg, where backyard dwelling structures were alight.

*This article was updated to reflect that 80 people have been affected in the Imizamo Yethu fire, as per City assessments.

The South African Police Service in the Western Cape has condemned a deadly shooting that claimed the lives of three people and left another critically injured in Nyanga on Christmas night.

The incident occurred at approximately 10 pm on 25 December at a residence on Mplangeni Street, near the Ofcon Hostel. Police say two unknown suspects allegedly entered a single-room structure and opened fire on the occupants.

Three people, estimated to be between the ages of 25 and 40, were fatally wounded during the attack. A fourth victim sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.

According to preliminary investigations, the shooting may be linked to revenge or an attempt to eliminate a witness. Police have stressed that this motive is still being investigated and has not yet been confirmed.

No arrests have been made at this stage.

The case is being investigated by detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, who are following up on all available leads in an effort to track down the suspects. SAPS has also increased police visibility in the area following the shooting.

Western Cape police have condemned the attack in the strongest terms, describing it as a senseless act of violence, and reiterated their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit tips via the MySAPS mobile application. Police have assured the public that all information will be treated with strict confidentiality.

An 18-year-old from Montana in Cape Town remains missing after disappearing in the surf at Fish Hoek beach on Wednesday, 24 December.

The NSRI says lifeguards commenced a rescue operation in front of the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club for 2 teenagers caught in rip currents on Wednesday morning.

Various rescue agencies responded to the scene. City of Cape Town lifeguards rescued an 18-year-old male (from Belhar, Cape Town) from the water while the search continues for the missing 18-year-old male from Montana.

The rescued teenager was transported to the hospital by CMR ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

Rescue resources, rescue craft and the Skymed rescue helicopter, arriving on the scene, joined CoCT lifeguards in ongoing search efforts for the missing teenager – including 5 rescue craft – 2 NSRI rescue craft, 2 lifeguard rescue craft and a Law Enforcement marine unit rescue craft, and the Skymed rescue helicopter.

Despite extensive air, sea and shoreline search efforts, there remain no signs of the missing 18-year-old male.

Police WPDS responded, and Police divers, assisted by a Police Air Wing helicopter, have taken over in ongoing search efforts for the missing teenager.

It appears that there were a group of teenagers at the beach with a carer when the 2 teenagers went into the water and were caught in rip currents.