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7 November 2025
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Maitland fire leaves 211 asylum seekers, undocumented migrants homeless
A fire broke out at the Wingfield Tent City situated in Maitland, Cape Town on Thursday, 6 November 2025. Edward Bosch, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service, said, “The white marquee tent used as informal housing as well as several wood and iron structures were affected by the fire. Six fire engines and four water tankers from Epping, Goodwood, Bellville, Milnerton, Durbanville, Mitchells Plain and Belhar fire stations with a total of 39 firefighters responded. A fire team from the military base also attended to the scene.”
Bosch added, “The scene was divided into three divisions to effectively surround the fire. Firefighters approached the fire from two separate divisions via Voortrekker Road. The military fire team and City fire crews attended to the vegetation alight off Nightingale Street, behind the location of the structures. One large marquee tent as well as 40 wood and iron structures were destroyed by fire; 211 persons displaced and accounted for. One firefighter sustained an ankle injury during the firefighting operations.”
“The call was received at 16:54 and the fire brought under control at 18:40. “
The fire destroyed informal structures as well as a large marquee that had provided shelter for refugee families since 2020. The City’s Disaster Risk Management unit activated its JOC to register each person affected in the fire. Disaster Risk Management, along with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, provided food, water and temporary relief.
Source: Edward Bosch, spokesperson, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service; Ward 56 councillor Cheslyn Steenberg
Bosch added, “The scene was divided into three divisions to effectively surround the fire. Firefighters approached the fire from two separate divisions via Voortrekker Road. The military fire team and City fire crews attended to the vegetation alight off Nightingale Street, behind the location of the structures. One large marquee tent as well as 40 wood and iron structures were destroyed by fire; 211 persons displaced and accounted for. One firefighter sustained an ankle injury during the firefighting operations.”
“The call was received at 16:54 and the fire brought under control at 18:40. “
The fire destroyed informal structures as well as a large marquee that had provided shelter for refugee families since 2020. The City’s Disaster Risk Management unit activated its JOC to register each person affected in the fire. Disaster Risk Management, along with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, provided food, water and temporary relief.
Source: Edward Bosch, spokesperson, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service; Ward 56 councillor Cheslyn Steenberg
