Kaalfonetin fire victims speak out
Families in the informal settlement of Kaalfontein, Esselen Park Extension Three, were affected by a recent blaze that damaged their properties and left many homeless. This was the third fire in the informal settlement in 2021 and the second in May. Thembi Sibiya, a single mother who lives with her mother and four children, was
Families in the informal settlement of Kaalfontein, Esselen Park Extension Three, were affected by a recent blaze that damaged their properties and left many homeless.
This was the third fire in the informal settlement in 2021 and the second in May.
Thembi Sibiya, a single mother who lives with her mother and four children, was one of the many who suffered. Sibiya’s shack was burnt to the ground, including her ID.
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Sibiya and her family were left with no choice but to rely on organisations for clothes and food donations, as well as accommodation in nearby containers.
“I was not able to rescue anything when our shacks burnt down. My children only have the school uniforms they were wearing on the day of the fire. We need help to apply for new IDs,” Sibiya said.
Mmapitsi Phela (33), a self-employed mother of one child, said her home was also destroyed, adding that she lost a large sum of cash she earned through selling crockery and cutlery.
“We are lucky that the fire did not kill nor injure anyone, we are all still safe,” Phela said.
Lewis Maziba lost his home and stock of oranges worth R4 000.
The 36-year-old told Thembisan that residents need assistance with shelter, blankets and food to help them gather strength to overcome these devastating times.
“There is no point of living when you face such situations. When the sun sets, we become worried about how we are going to overcome the cold night because we have no blankets. We have lost our valuable properties. Now, we have to rely on the donations that are given by organisations,” Maziba said.
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