Winter house fires in Ekurhuleni kill 12, including children

A series of deadly house fires ravaged several homes in Ekurhuleni, particularly in the townships of Katlehong and Villa Liza, claiming the lives of 12 people — including young children — since the beginning of the winter season in June.

Bongani Dondolo (33) and his four-year-old son Sipho Babu died when the backroom the family was renting in Katlehong, Ext 20, caught fire during the early hours of June 21.

The boy’s mother, who was not at home at the time, survived but was unavailable for comment on how the tragedy occurred.

In another deadly home fire in Villa Liza, north of Kathorus, four children — Mfanelo Ntuli (4), along with Nkazimulo Mthabela (4), Emihle Shabalala (5), and their 14-year-old cousin, Anele Shabalala — died.

The fire engulfed the family’s four-room shack. The children had been locked inside and left alone by their aunt on the night of June 27.

Later that same night, a fire in Mavimbela Section, Katlehong, resulted in the deaths of two children — Nkanyezi Magele (2) and Ntombizodwa Tshabalala (10). The family’s four-room house caught fire and was engulfed in flames, which led to their death.

During another fire incident, a raging fire claimed the lives of siblings, a two-year-old baby and a 22-year-old man, and injured an eight-year-old child early in the morning in Alra Park Extension 3, Nigel, on June 29.

A man in his early thirties was killed in a shack fire during the early hours of July 2 at the Makause informal settlement in Germiston.

Another tragic house fire claimed the life of 47-year-old Chicco Jostine Makabe of Vosloorus, Ext 1, on July 5.

The distressed grandmother, Ncenceza Ntuli (70), told Kathorus Mail in an exclusive interview that she had left the children with a family member as that evening she was on her way to a funeral in the Eastern Cape.

“While I was waiting for the taxi, I heard the sound of a whistle that is usually used to alert local community members whenever there is a problem in our area.

“I was informed that there was a fire at my place. At home, I was greeted by a raging blaze in my yard,” said Ncenceza.

The grandmother stated that residents tried to extinguish the fire with buckets of water, but they couldn’t contain the fire.

“Unfortunately, in a few minutes our shack was already engulfed in the raging flames, and it was only then that I learned from the neighbours that my grandchildren and our tenants’ children were locked inside the blazing shack.

“I’m deeply pained by the situation. I suspect the fire was caused by a candle left burning due to the load reduction we were experiencing at the time,” Ncenceza said.

She added that the relative who was meant to look after the children had locked them inside the shack for safety while going to the shops.

“Unfortunately, the children couldn’t be saved because community members couldn’t access the shack in time.”
Sthembile Mthabela (37), the mother of Nkazimulo (4), said before the fire incident, she had called her older son earlier and he informed her that he was enjoying himself at his grandmother’s place.

“I was shocked when I was later informed in the evening that my son had died in a house fire.”

Khanyile Ntuli (36) expressed her grief at the loss of her son, Mfanelo. “My son and the other children suffered a horrific death, and I’m saddened by what happened,” she said. Khanyisile.

Other distraught parents who live in Villa Lisa, who lost children in the inferno, are mourning the tragic death of their two children, 14-year-old Anele and Emihle, aged 5. The two children’s elder sister, Ncamisile Shabalala, said she was shocked and heartbroken by the incident.

“We are struggling to come to terms with what happened,” she said, “The tragedy is like a dream, as all the children who died were young and innocent.”

Emihle’s mother, Nompelo Shabalala (23), said the incident has affected her emotionally.

“I still can’t believe that my son is dead. What happened will haunt me forever,” said Nqobile.

Sitheni Shabalala (46) said she is overwhelmed by sadness because she lost both her child, Anele, and her grandchild, Emihle.

“It will take us a long time to recover from what happened,” said Sitheni.

Both families have lost their belongings, including clothes, pots, and food in the fire and are appealing to good Samaritans to extend a helping hand.

William Ntladi, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, said the city has experienced a sharp increase in house fires since the start of winter.

He encouraged residents of Ekurhuleni to ensure that they adhere to the safety precautions when dealing with electrical appliances and braziers.

He warned that children should not be left alone or allowed to use electrical appliances without adult supervision or a responsible adult at home.

Cautioning residents of Ekurhuleni, Ntladi said: “People should refrain from using faulty or crudely modified electrical appliances and illegal electrical connections in their homes because such appliances pose deadly dangers to lives.”

He said makeshift heating appliances are also common among different residents in the community, which he said was of grave concern to the municipality.

He also issued the following safety tips to residents to consider:

• Only SABS/SANS-approved heating, cooking, and lighting appliances should be used.

• Keep heaters a metre or more away from the heating appliances.

• Refill paraffin appliances and power generators before usage or let them cool off first before refuelling, use a funnel to refuel and spillages over hot surfaces can lead to fires.

• Never sleep with heaters on, switch off before going to bed, or before you leave the room.

• Braziers (Mbawulas) and coal stoves should be taken outside before going to bed and should be extinguished.

While warming yourselves, keep windows or doors open to allow fresh air into the house and smoke to be eliminated.

For any life-threatening emergencies, call (011) 458 0911 before attempting to self-extinguish the fire.