Khayelitsha police officers came to the aid of fire victims in the SST shanty town on Monday with donations of home appliances, furniture and other essentials.
This comes after a fire there last week claimed the lives of a young couple and destroyed about 150 shacks, leaving more than 500 people homeless (“Couple perish in SST informal settlement fire,” Vukani, November 2).
Khayelitsha police station spokeswoman Constable Asanda Daweti said they wanted to show support for those who had lost everything in the fire.
“We are human beings first, and we have relatives and cousins who might be affected by this fire,” she said. “I know that this might not be the much-needed help that you guys need, but this is the least that we could do from our hearts to you.”
Community leader Lunga Mathafeni thanked the officers for the donations. He said he and the other victims of the fire were finding it hard to rebuild their lives as many of them were unemployed.
“We have absolutely nothing, and we are rebuilding our lives from these donations so please do not undervalue your significant contributions to us. We are glad that there are still people who care about other people’s plight.”
Harare police station spokeswoman Warrant Officer Nosiphiwo Mntengwane said there had been several big fires in the area over the years. The donation by the officers at the Khayelitsha police station showed how police in the township worked together as a family, she said.
