Mr Delsu Kwampa (30) was burnt beyond recognition in a fire which destroyed seven shacks and RDP house in Ivory Park, Extension 10, on Friday last week.
The blaze, which is suspected to have been sparked by a cooking fire that was left unattended in the deceased’s shack, began at midnight on Friday last week.
All the households in the shacks and RDP houses, including important documents, were burnt to ashes.
There are claims that the victim was under the influence of alcohol while cooking and fell asleep.
The massive fire has kept community members busy all night, when they worked tirelessly with buckets of water and hose pipes to stop the flames while waiting for firefighters to arrive.
Landlord, Mr Themba Shibambu, said he felt hopeless as he waited hours for Ivory Park firefighters to arrive.
“I am not happy with the late response because maybe my house could have been saved if they had arrived earlier. Members of the community tried to help but the blaze was too large and we failed to control it,” he said.
Mr Shibambu added that he is appealing to any good Samaritans who could help renovate his house.
“I am unemployed. I do not know how I will renovate the house. Everything is burnt down,” he added.
The deceased’s brother, Mr Souza Kwamba, said he was stressed because he has no money for his brother’s funeral.
“I am appealing to anyone who could help donate something that could assist in getting my brother buried in Mozambique,” he added.
Clr Big Joe Mahlanga, from ward 78, said he was only informed about the incident on Sunday morning.
“I will report the matter to the Department of Social Development and the Regional Office in the City of Johannesburg. We are saddened by the loss of our brother Kwampa and the incident itself. We are crying with the family, we say their pain is our pain, not to forget the other tenants and landlord who escaped from the fire,” he said.
Clr Mahlanga said they are appealing to anyone who could help the families with anything to assist them to move forward.
“We are appealing to members of the community to switch off their electric appliances, candles and primus stoves before they sleep,” he said.
Members of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, based at Mashemong Section in Tembisa, donated clothing to the fire victims.
The Ivory Park SAPS communications officer, Warrant Officer Neldah Sekgobela, said an inquest case was opened.
