Aid is streaming in for about 200 people left destitute after a massive fire ravaged Wupperthal, near Clanwilliam, and destroyed nearly 50 houses.
The blaze, which broke out on Sunday, gutted the clinic, school and town hall at the Wupperthal Moravian Mission Station.
Emergency services from the Western Cape Department of Health have been working around the clock to assist victims.
Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, of the Moravian Church, said: “The situation in the area remains unchanged. At the moment we have our disaster risk management team on the ground busy assessing the area. They are doing an inspection regarding the destroyed buildings to see what can be salvaged and what must be destroyed.”
Solomons-Johannes said the telecommunications infrastructure had been completely destroyed.
On Tuesday Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell visited the area. He said teams were working to restore the electricity supply.
Disaster and relief organisation Gift of the Givers has stepped in to assist the community.
“We have started supplying food, mattresses and water, and we are providing stationery for the children. We’ve also been giving residents food and juice,” said Ali Sablay, Gift of the Givers’ Western Cape project manager.
He urged Capetonians to donate items, especially school-related goods.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “The nation’s thoughts go out to the people of Wupperthal, who have suffered terrible personal losses alongside cultural assets that are of importance to all South Africans, and especially Moravian congregations across the Western Cape.”
Ramaphosa said local government and the Department of Arts and Culture would work with the Wupperthal community to bring relief to the area.
If you would like to assist with donations, contact Gift of the Givers on 082 651 4195.