Picking up the pieces after a shack fire

For three families of the Lurex informal settlement in Emjindini, whose shacks were burnt down, using partly burnt material to rebuild their homes is all that they can afford.

Nearly 20 people were left destitute after a devastating fire destroyed about three shacks early last Thursday. The blaze allegedly started in one of the shacks, which belonged to Catherine Thwala (30), and then spread to other two. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. The families said they watched helplessly as their homes were engulfed in flames.

“I was asleep, but woke up choking from all the smoke in my house at around 03:00. All I managed to salvage was my identity document and my children’s birth certificates, a cellphone,” said Thwala.

At the time when it started, Thwala said she was with her three children Martha (13), a grade six learner at Amon Nkosi Primary School, Ernest (10), a grade five at Amon and Ruth (3). With her were also her sister’s three kids, Ernest Makamo (17), a grade five at Ekhiyeni, Feliciano (12), grade four at Ekhiyeni and Raphael (8), a grade two also at Ekhiyeni.

When Barberton Times visited the scene last Friday morning, the families looked tired and despondent. They were rummaging through the debris in the hope of salvaging whatever valuables they could find.

Joana Thobela (38) and her family had already started patching up the charred remains of their corrugated-iron roof.

Thobela shared her four-room shack with her mother; Rose Thobela (57), two sisters; Doris (33) and Julia (30) and her four children; Chicco (16), a grade five learner at Ekhiyeni Primary School, twins Nohlanhla and Nomthandazo, both nine and in grade two at Ekuchathuzeni Primary School and Temaswati (3).

“We have lost everything we own and are now just picking up the pieces. We are putting one and one together to try and get our home back to the way it was,” said Joana.

She said they had lost all their clothes, furniture, school uniform for the children, identity documents and birth certificates.

Even though the Umjindi Municipality Fire Brigade had in the past been blamed for arriving late, in this case it could do nothing. The density of the informal settlement made fighting the fire extremely difficult. The settlement has no open spaces that can enable crews to get to the fire easily and prevent further damage.

Umjindi Municipality assisted the families with tents and blankets which were delivered by Jabulani Ginindza.

However, the families appeal to good Samaritans for help. Those willing to assist can contact Catherine Thwala on 079-976-6331 or Hilda on 071-290-2326.