Ohrigstad families left homeless after 14 shacks are burnt down
14 shacks were burnt in Ohrigstad.
OHRIGSTAD – With temperatures plummeting, shack dwellers in Ohrigstad were left destitute after a fire destroyed about 14 shacks.
These shacks, on the corner of the R555 and the R36, burned to ashes and families were left wondering where they were going to sleep when the incident happened last Thursday.
Malebo Malatji told Steelburger/Lydenburg News he was at work when the fire broke out and was called to come home.
“I work in the fields and was called by a neighbour who told me that the house next door had caught fire. The neighbour started screaming that a fire had started,” she said.
The residents reiterated that they were unaware of what caused the mysterious fire.
“We suspect one of the residents might have left a burning paraffin stove in his shack. We are grateful that no one was injured during the blaze.”
Residents said they were left with no clothes and their IDs were all burned during the inferno.
The emergency services and Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality’s disaster management visited the site and promised to hand over mattresses and blankets to each of the families left displaced.
“The only stress now is to find out how we are going to get our shacks back, the nights are cold and we have nothing,” said Malatji.
On Tuesday the families told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that they managed to erect makeshift shacks as temporary shelters.
“We still plead with locals to assist us with blankets and clothes as we are still awaiting the municipality’s donations. This will help in bringing some balance to our lives,” said Malatji.
