The spirit of ubuntu lives on in Phalaborwa after a devastating fire ravaged homes on Saturday afternoon.

Despite 13 homes and a guest house being gutted by fire, the local community and surrounding areas came together to help the affected families. A local church has opened its doors and turned its premises into an operation centre, where donated food, clothes, toiletries and furniture are stored.

Tommie Marais, a resident at Starling Street, watched as his house was engulfed in flames. He tells Letaba Herald that despite all of this, he was touched by how people of all races came together to help him and his family. He says that people helped him take out the files and books in his home office, and that no file was burnt because of the love shown by people he barely knows.

“I don’t even know where I can find them to say ‘thank you’, because everything happened so quick and they were just there to help.”

On Monday morning, MEC for CoGHSTA Basikopo Makamu, Mopani District Municipality Mayor Pule Shayi, and Phalaborwa Mayor Merriam Malatji did an oversight assessment of the fire.

After the assessment, Makamu referred to the situation as ‘devastating’. “Government will do a thorough assessment of how best it can provide support to the affected families. Some of the houses can be renovated and CoGHSTA has a fund that can assist.”

He referred to shelter being a pressing issue, and that the Department of Tourism should help provide accommodation to the affected families at nearby lodges in the next two weeks.