A devastating fire ripped through the Malacca Road Informal Settlement near Red Hill in the early hours of Saturday morning, claiming one life, destroying about 60 shacks and leaving more than 70 residents homeless as winter’s bitter cold gripped Durban.

The blaze, which broke out at about 11:30pm on Friday, spread rapidly through the densely populated settlement before firefighters from eThekwini Municipality’s Fire and Emergency Services brought it under control after battling the flames throughout the night.

The victim has been identified only by the surname Ntuli, with authorities working alongside community leaders to locate the deceased’s relatives.

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KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said he received distress calls at around 4am, prompting the activation of an integrated response involving all three spheres of government.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased and particularly with the children who have been exposed to the extreme cold during this difficult period,” MEC Duma said.

He commended eThekwini Municipality’s emergency and disaster teams for their swift response, saying their efforts prevented an even greater tragedy.

Following the fire, disaster management teams immediately began assessing the damage and co-ordinating humanitarian relief for displaced families.

Many residents have since sought temporary shelter with relatives, friends and neighbours while government officials determine what further assistance is required.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the South African Police Service. The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by families living in informal settlements, where overcrowding, flammable building materials and limited access for emergency vehicles often allow fires to spread within minutes.

The incident also renews focus on the city’s housing crisis. In 2023, eThekwini Municipality revealed it had built more than 200, 000 RDP houses since 1994, but acknowledged that, at the current pace, it could take as long as 90 years to eliminate the informal settlement housing backlog.

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Housing advocacy movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, has repeatedly criticised what it describes as the slow pace of housing delivery, arguing that thousands of families continue to live in unsafe conditions while awaiting permanent homes.

Community members, local non-profit organisations and government agencies have rallied to support those affected, many of whom left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, yet the road to recovery remains long and arduous.