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Fire destroys at least 100 structures at Bagdad informal settlement

Published

At least one person died and three others were treated for smoke inhalation in the fire in Pretoria on Saturday. The City of Tshwane's Human Settlement Department has asked for urgent humanitarian relief for the displaced families.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday. Tshwane firefighters responded to the blaze. Dozens of families lost their homes. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Human Settlement Department said the fire had a devastating impact on the affected families. It called for urgent mobilisation of humanitarian relief, particularly from Home Affairs. Some residents may have lost their identity documents.

Key facts

Who
Human Settlement Department (City of Tshwane department calling for humanitarian relief); Tshwane firefighters (responded to the fire); Home Affairs (department called upon to mobilise relief for residents)
What
A fire in the early hours of Saturday at Bagdad Informal Settlement in Pretoria killed at least one person and treated three others for smoke inhalation. Tshwane's Human Settlement Department has called for urgent humanitarian relief, particularly from Home Affairs, for residents who may have lost identity documents. The cause is under investigation.
When
24 October 2026
Where
Bagdad Informal Settlement, Pretoria
Status
Reported

Elections Hot

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There were problems: unused ballot papers were stolen from Mnyameni Secondary School near Durban, police opened a case, and the IEC relieved the station staff of duty. Some voters in Tshwane said they were turned away for wearing party shirts, but the IEC denied this and said only mayoral candidates' entourages were barred.

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Democrats won back both the US House and Senate in the midterm elections held on 3 November, according to media projections. Exit polls showed voters were angry about high prices and the direction of the country, and rebuked President Donald Trump.

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Markets reacted, with the dollar hitting a one-month low and the rand firming to around R16.55, as analysts pointed to fears of gridlock in Washington.

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