DURBAN, 5 JULY 2026 – A devastating winter fire has ripped through an informal settlement in Ward 110, eThekwini, leaving 81 people homeless and tragically claiming one life on Friday evening.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthekezi has deployed emergency disaster teams to the site and is accelerating a provincial smoke alarm rollout to curb further winter tragedies.
The blaze, fueled by combustible materials and winter winds, completely gutted 44 structures and partially damaged four others. In response, eThekwini Disaster Management has erected a temporary marquee shelter and is distributing emergency food, blankets, and mattresses to the 87 affected individuals.
KZN COGTA has warned that the bitter winter drop in temperature significantly increases open-flame vulnerabilities in informal settlements.
Densely populated areas face extreme dangers from the necessary but high-risk use of candles, paraffin stoves, and braziers (izimbawula).
To proactively mitigate this seasonal spike in disasters, COGTA is fast-tracking the distribution of specialised, early-warning smoke alarms across high-density informal settlements. These devices are designed to provide residents with critical evacuation seconds before flames spread.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased our teams are on the ground coordinating support to the affect” said Cogta MEC Buthelezi.
Issued by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
