About 17 families in Modderfontein in Kroondal near Rustenburg, North West, have been left homeless, after their shacks caught fire on Monday afternoon.
Residents say the fire, caused by an electrical fault, started at about 3pm on Monday and they tried unsuccessfully to stop it from spreading to other shacks.
Even the firefighters failed to stop the inferno as it spread through the informal settlement destroying 17 shacks and leaving 30 people, including children without shelter.
One of the residents, Lydia Senne, said the fire was fanned by the wind and spread easily as some of the houses were covered by plastic sheets and made of wooden planks.
Christina Ophi-Molwana, said the blaze has destroyed her cupboard, fridge, clothes, ID and her kids’ school clothes and books.
Ward 36 Secretary, Tshepiso Mmebe, is appealing for help.
“We urge the public to drop off necessities for the families as they’ve left with nothing. Their condition is bad, especially for kids, as it is cold and they have nowhere to go,” said Mmebe.
