Another Centurion informal-settlement blaze destroys multiple shacks

Emergency crews battled a major fire in an informal settlement at the Centurion Taxi Rank on Saturday evening, destroying multiple shacks and prompting a multi-agency response.

What happened

Emergency medical services group CERT South Africa said its Centurion crew responded to reports of multiple dwellings on fire near Centurion Mall. On arrival, crews found several structures alight, with Fidelity Secure Fire and the City of Tshwane Emergency Services already at the scene.

Response and casualties

CERT South Africa reported that initial reports from residents indicated five people were unaccounted for, but added that after several hours of firefighting operations this could not be confirmed. The Old East Safety Forum also responded, assisting with crowd control, supporting the city’s emergency services and helping affected families.

While no fatalities had been recorded, one patient was transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Wider pattern of winter blazes

The Centurion incident was described as the fourth fire during the winter season. The reporting notes earlier blazes include a fire last month at the Bremer Street informal settlement, known as the Groen Containers, and two incidents in May at the Plastic View settlement that together destroyed over 200 shacks.

Calls for municipal action

Mamelodi resident Deego Mabula commented on the broader risks facing informal settlements, saying:

“It is disheartening to see individuals and families living without basic necessities, such as clean water and proper sanitation facilities.”

He urged municipal responsibility, saying the municipality “must take full responsibility for this situation” and calling for enforcement of regulations against illegal camping and for relocation and sustainable solutions.

According to the source, City of Tshwane Emergency Services Management had yet to comment.