A fire that broke out on January 9, 2026, at Site 5 informal settlement in Du Noon near Cape Town has destroyed nearly 1,000 dwellings, displacing thousands of residents. The City of Cape Town has started registering affected individuals for relief assistance. Efforts are underway to clear debris and support reconstruction amid the ongoing crisis.
The City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) has initiated the registration of people impacted by a devastating fire at Site 5 in the Du Noon informal settlement. The blaze, which erupted on January 9, 2026, razed nearly 1,000 structures, according to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. In a tweet, the mayor noted, “This morning I visited Site 5 in DuNoon where a fire destroyed hundreds of homes yesterday. I’m grateful for the City teams who are on the ground in large numbers helping residents, clearing debris, and preparing to assist with reconstruction.”
DRMC spokesperson Charlotte Powell reported that site clearance operations are in progress, with some residents already beginning to rebuild their homes. A building inspector has been deployed to assess the integrity of the perimeter wall and nearby formal dwellings to ensure safety. Powell added, “Once the impact of the fire has been confirmed and all affected persons registered, the lists will be submitted to SASSA, the Provincial Department of Social Development and the National Department of Human Settlements for relief from their side.”
Relief efforts are gaining momentum, with the Gift of the Givers organization providing meals to approximately 5,000 affected individuals. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities in informal settlements, particularly during the dry, high-temperature season in the Western Cape. The registration process is crucial for channeling government and humanitarian aid to those displaced, preventing further hardship in the community.
