The number of people left destitute by the fire that broke out in Philippi on the Cape Flats has doubled to 400. Yesterday morning, disaster management officials put the number at about 200 people, but more shacks burnt down than initially thought. 

About 100 shacks were gutted at an informal settlement in Bristol Road. The cause is unknown at this stage. A spokesperson for Disaster Management, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes confirmed that disaster management is on site assisting people with humanitarian aid consisting of food, clothing and blankets as well as clearing the site and issuing them with building material to re-erect their structures. 

In Limpopo, a destitute child-headed family in Mentz, Limpopo, has received a five-roomed house on Christmas-eve. The newly-built house replaces the one-roomed house that the six members of the Lediga family previously occupied. This is the result of a joint effort between the Limpopo Local Government and Housing Department, Thobela fm and community-based centre Mama Bheka Projects. 

Thobela fm's Florina Sebola says all the radio station had to do was broadcast the initiative and did not contribute anything in terms of monetary value. Sebola thanked the many listeners who came out in droves to offer help.