Photo: Dustin Wetdewich
‘The firemen on the scene had to restrain the distressed dog from going to his masters. He is the only one that survived.’
This is how Kenalemang Ntitane remembers the moments just after two young brothers and their father (her cousin) died in a raging shack fire in Ext. 3 Sarafina last Friday. The fire department found the three badly burnt bodies of Moleko Lephadi (30), Pule Macleod (7) and Baratile Macleod (6) lying among the scorched remains of the shack.
Maria Motlhasedi, a heartbroken relative, says she was awoken by her neighbour bringing her the news at about 22:00.
‘We immediately went there to try and help but there was nothing we could do. The fire was raging and, to make matters worse, there was no water in the area to extinguish the fire. The security guards who first saw the burning shack went door-to-door to ask for water but there wasn’t a single drop,’ she said. She firmly believes that her relatives would all still be alive if there was water available but the municipal tanker did not bring water on that fateful day. ‘It usually comes around once every three days,’ she says.
According to her, a close neighbour tried to save the three souls by dismantling the shack but it was already too late. ‘The two boys were right at the door… they were trying to escape from the fire. She cried uncontrollably when she saw them.
‘The fire department came as quickly as they could but it was too late,’ she said.
She spoke highly of Moleko, the father of the boys, who were visiting him from Abraham Kriel that day. ‘ He loved them so much – he proudly told everyone that he had built a home for his children. It is heartbreaking that they all died in that very place,’ she said.
‘He used to walk past our house with the little one around his neck and the other one holding his hand. The dog would always follow them,’ she added.
While the dog is currently at Paws (Potch Animal Welfare Society) they would like to adopt him as he is part of the memories they have of the deceased.
The Ikageng SAPS spokesperson, Const. Kelebogile Trom says no one knows what might have caused the fire. ‘A case of inquest has been opened at the police station,’ she said.
The funeral was held at 7875 Itumeleng Street in Sarafina last Saturday.
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