THE Mazibuko family’s joy of finally owning a home was short lived when a fire engulfed their house during the early hours of May 10.
A group of angry residents protested outside their house in Oakmoor Extension Nine, in Tembisa, at the break of dawn, demanding they leave the house and subsequently burned it to ashes.
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The house had been repossessed by the bank due to non-payment from the previous owner and sold to the Mazibuko family through an estate agent, a process that was not welcomed by the previous occupant.
The Mazibuko family finalised the purchase of the house in November 2014, but could not occupy the home immediately as the previous occupant refused to move out.
The sheriff of the court then served the previous occupant with a 30-day notice to vacate the house in March.
The Mazibuko family had been living there for barely a month when the house was set alight.
On Friday, Ekurhuleni Member of Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Clr Makhosazana Mabaso, visited the family and brought some much needed relief. She handed over a school uniform to the youngest girl in the family, as well as food parcels.
“A home is a refuge where one should run to for safety, and thus as the municipality we condemn this atrocious act. We will work together with law enforcement officials to make sure the offenders are brought to book,” said Mabaso.
The family is currently staying at a place of safety known to the municipality.
“The winter season is upon us and now my family and I have no place to stay, no food to eat and no clothes to wear,” said the deeply hurt Bomi Mazibuko, the current owner of the house.
She also expressed her gratitude to the municipality for the assistance it has offered.
A case of arson has been opened with local police and investigations are underway.
