Lulekani family appeals for help after house fire
A family in Lulekani seek help after losing their home and all their belongings after a fire mistakenly started by a child.
PHALABORWA – The Mathebula family from Kurhula village in Lulekani is appealing to the community for assistance after one of their two-roomed houses was destroyed by a fire, leaving the family without basic necessities, including school uniforms and clothes for their children.
The incident occurred on January 2, at the family’s homestead, which consists of two separate two-roomed houses in the same yard and is home to 10 family members.
Califonia Mathebula, a family member who was at the house at the time of the fire, said she was asleep in the other house when the fire broke out, and the smoke had already started entering the house where she was sleeping before she realised what was happening.
“When I woke up, smoke had already begun entering the house where I was sleeping. I was alerted by neighbours shouting, which is when I finally woke up,” she said.
Four-year-old accidentally starts blaze
Mathebula explained that the fire was accidentally caused by their four-year-old boy, who was playing inside the house. The child reportedly ignited a matchstick, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.
She further explained that one of the older boys had lit firecrackers earlier that day and had left the matchbox and firecrackers inside the room.
“I believe the child may have been attempting to play with it when the fire started. Fortunately, he was able to escape without any injuries,” she said.
At the time of the incident, only Mathebula and the boy were home.
Family appeals for help
The family is now appealing for urgent assistance, particularly school uniforms for their four children, two boys in Gr R, one girl in Gr 3 and one boy in Gr 5.
They are also in need of clothing, furniture and other essential household items.
Mathebula said the house belongs to her aunt, who is a domestic worker. “We are in deep pain because we lost everything that my aunt worked hard for. It is very painful because she is a domestic worker who is trying her best for us to survive,” she said.
Anyone willing to assist the Mathebula family is requested to contact 079 267 2156 or 079 741 9613.
