On Thursday, 10 September 2021, tragedy struck at the Itireleng Informal Settlement in Laudium, when four homes were razed to the ground. One of the residents from the settlement left a stove unattended which started the fire.
The residents of the four homes lost everything, including furniture, groceries and clothing. One resident told Laudium Today that she had saved for two years to purchase groceries to take home to her family in December, but everything had been lost in the fire.
Councillor Essop and Councillor Candidate Naeem Patel together with Laudium Relief and other community based organisations came to the rescue. Within hours of the fir mattresses, clothing and groceries for the victims were purchased and by Sunday, 12 September 2021, the homes were rebuilt and handed over to the residents.
The Itireleng residents were thankful to Councillor Essop, Councillor Candidate Naeem Patel, Laudium Relief and all those who assisted.
