Fire detectors to save lives at informal settlements
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Date: 2025-07-30 09:58:37

Fire detectors to save lives at informal settlements

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
29 JULY 2025
 
FIRE DETECTORS TO SAVE LIVES AT INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
 
In a bold step towards building a fire-resilient City, eThekwini Municipality, in partnership with Astron Energy, launched a life-saving initiative by installing cutting-edge smoke and fire detectors at the Dakota Informal Settlement in Isiphingo today, 29 July.
 
This initiative, which will be rolled out to other informal settlements, forms part of the Municipality’s Level 2 Disaster Management Plan, which prioritises proactive risk reduction, community safety, and the protection of lives and livelihoods. 
 
The installation of the 340 detectors was led by eThekwini Deputy Mayor Councillor Zandile Myeni, alongside Ward 90 Councillor Dharmanand Nowbuth, senior officials from Astron Energy, officials from the Municipality’s Disaster Management Directorate, and key stakeholders.
 
This is a milestone in the City's vision of achieving zero fire-related fatalities in vulnerable communities.
 
Deputy Mayor Myeni said the initiative is a declaration that the lives of all people matter. “Through this public-private partnership, we are not only responding to past tragedies but actively preventing future ones,” she said.
 
She said this is a flagship example of the City's commitment to disaster risk mitigation, aligning with the Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
 
The devices will alert residents at the earliest sign of fire, enabling swift evacuation and emergency response, a critical intervention in densely populated settlements where fires spread rapidly.
 
For residents like Fikile Mbotho, whose newly rebuilt home was fitted with one of the detectors, the initiative brings more than just safety, it brings peace of mind.
 
“The device will help alert us quickly if a fire starts. We feel safer, and we are truly grateful,” she said.
 
Dakota was chosen as the pilot site due to its high fire risk, driven by the close proximity of structures and the use of flammable materials for cooking and heating.
 
The Municipality plans to expand the initiative to all informal settlements across eThekwini, ensuring that every resident has access to life-saving early warning systems.
 
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate.