Villa Liza shack fire kills 4 children
Two families mourn the loss of young children in a shack fire sparked during load-shedding, as the community rallies to offer support and counseling.
The Mthabela and Shabalala families are grappling not only with unbearable grief but also with an overwhelming sense of guilt that threatens to consume them.
This is after they lost four children in a fire that engulfed two shacks in Villa Liza on June 27.
The young victims were Anele Shabalala (14), Liyakha Shabalala (5) and brothers, Nkazimulo and Mfanelo Shabalala, aged four.
Nomfundo Shabalala, their older sister, recalled the fateful evening through tears.
“My mom and I weren’t home when the fire started. Only my dad was there, but he’d gone out to buy food during load-shedding.
“My 16-year-old sister went to look for him because he’d been gone a while and the little ones were hungry.
“We were called in a panic and rushed back, but by the time we got there, both shacks were already in flames. We suspect it was a candle. There was no water to stop the fire.”
She added that no one from the Mthabela household was home at the time of the fire either.
“We keep asking ourselves if we could have done something differently. Should someone have stayed behind? Why didn’t we check on them more often? The ‘what-ifs’ echo in our minds every minute.”
She said her father, who had gone to buy food, is especially burdened by guilt.
“He keeps reliving the moment he saw the fire, with neighbours trying to help, but it was already too late. He feels he failed his children.
Their older sister, who went to look for our father, is also struggling.
“She feels responsible for leaving the younger ones alone, even though she had no choice. She keeps wondering if she could have done more to save them.”
Shabalala explained that two of the children were visiting from KwaZulu-Natal for the school holidays.
“They came to visit for the holidays. They were such happy children; full of life, love and laughter.”
Support
Dawn Park CPF and NGOs have mobilised to provide counselling and other forms of assistance to the grieving families.
Bianca Zambetti, CPF chairperson, said they’ve arranged trauma counselling and emotional support.
“We’re also doing everything we can to help rebuild the family’s homes and provide them with food and clothing.”
To assist the family, contact 071 166 6574.
