To help reduce fire incidents in informal settlements, the eThekwini Municipality and Astron Energy are fitting 342 fire and smoke detectors in the Dakota Informal Settlements, located in Ward 90 of Isipingo.
It also comes after more than 200 informal structures were destroyed, leaving over 400 residents displaced, earlier this month.
eThekwini Municipality deputy mayor Zandile Myeni said they were in Dakota with municipal disaster management and the private sector, Astron Energy and Gift of the Givers.
“We are here to install detectors to alert residents in case of a fire, especially since incidents often occur at night or when people are away from home,” Myeni said.
“We are very delighted because at the end of the day, if the fire starts, we don’t want it to escalate to other rooms, so that the municipality will be able to assist our people through the disaster, along with other NGOs you are working with on the ground.”
“When we are engaging with our colleagues who have donated, Astron, they also told us that these items are not going to be chargeable for a period of 10 years, and they have a guarantee of which we think our people will be using this programme moving forward,” Myeni continued.
“So we are very happy because we want our city to have zero percent of fire disasters moving forward.”
Myeni said the initiative is part of lessons learned. The municipality is in a position where it says the city’s disasters are lessons learned. It is also in line with the Disaster Level 2 Plan, where the municipality educates residents about disasters.
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In partnership with Western Cape Disaster Management, eThekwini Disaster Management, local municipalities, and fire departments, Astron Energy will install over 500 early-warning smoke detectors in high-risk informal settlements across Cape Town and Durban.
Installation sites will be in provincial disaster management zones for faster emergency response and fire tracking.
“Through this initiative, we aim to empower residents with early-warning technology and vital fire safety knowledge, helping to prevent loss of life and property. By working closely with local authorities and community partners, we are committed to creating safer, more secure spaces where individuals can live with greater peace of mind,” said Astron Energy corporate affairs manager Donna Fata.
eThekwini Municipality Disaster Management and Emergency head Vincent Ngubane said: “We’re thankful for the relationship we have with Astron (Energy) for supporting us in this early warning system programme in Dakota, where they will install 342 early warning detectors.
“This is not the first programme, there are other programmes. A lot of companies come to the fore, including Astron, Old Mutual, and Santam, also come and are doing much work.
“This is part of our strategy to fight, and if there are disasters, we can deal with them quicker.”
Isipingo Ward 90 councillor Dharmanand Nowbuth said: “This settlement has existed for over 45 years. During that time, the community has suffered tremendously, losing documents, personal items and so on, either through floods or fires.
“Hopefully, this new venture will assist in either eradicating or preventing fires.”
Fikile Mboto, who had lived in the informal settlement for seven years, was affected by this month’s fire. She had rebuilt when one of the devices was installed in her home on Tuesday.
“I’m very happy. Maybe I’ll leave a pot on the stove thinking I switched it off and go to the loo, only to return to a fire,” Mboto said.
“However, if I go to the loo this time, and leave my neighbour nearby, and the device sounds, the neighbour can break down the door and switch it off. It will help a lot.”
Another resident, Nomvuyo Mateke, said the new devices will help the community prevent more disasters. They have already lost their homes and important documents due to fires.
