By Mapaballo Borotho
- Four people have died following a devastating fire at the Kathrada Park Informal Settlement in Claremont, Johannesburg.
- Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation, while affected families are receiving assistance from Disaster Management officials.
- The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly informal settlement fires in Gauteng, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by vulnerable communities during winter
Residents of the Kathrada Park Informal Settlement in Claremont say they are still reeling from a devastating fire that claimed the lives of four people.
Speaking to Kaya News on Tuesday, 09 June 2026, one resident said he rushed to assist as the fire spread through the informal settlement in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
He said he lost his ID document and some of his family’s belongings while trying to rescue those trapped in the blaze.
Disaster Management officials have since been activated to assist affected families with relief material.
JUST IN: Four people have died following a fire at the Kathrada Park informal settlement in Claremont, west of Johannesburg.
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) June 9, 2026
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services says several shacks were destroyed in the blaze. Emergency crews responded to the scene and found four adult… pic.twitter.com/VQfflF5QzK
Currently, some residents are rummaging through the burnt rubble in an attempt to recover important documents and personal belongings.
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services says several residents were treated for smoke inhalation, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This is the third major fire incident in Gauteng in recent weeks that has displaced families and left communities grieving.
The other two fire incidents occurred at Plastic View Informal Settlement in Pretoria, where hundreds of shacks were destroyed and lives were lost.
Shack fires are not a new phenomenon in South Africa’s informal settlements, particularly during the winter months.
Every year, devastating fires leave thousands of people displaced, destroy homes, and claim lives, often as residents rely on heating devices and alternative energy sources to keep warm during cold weather.
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