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Community joins hands to help restore Gogo’s burnt house

"This fire ruined a lot of my things and where will I get them because I'm old now and unable to work."

October 23, 2020

Lunga Mzangwe 1 minute read

The community of Soshanguve block K wants to help an elderly woman whose house burnt down in June.

During the fire, Elinah Mndawe (84) managed to break her bedroom window so she could escape.

She was later taken to hospital after community members managed to extinguish the fire.

Mndawe was discharged 10 days later.

Her neighbours helped her find a place to stay and they are still trying to collect money to fix her house.

“We have placed her with a family block XX for her to recover as we are also trying to get her help, ” said community member Phumzile Msiza.

Msiza said they decided to contribute as community and buy what they could to fix the house.

Phumzile Msiza, Funky Mamahlodi, Stella Kubay.

“We are struggling to get help but we managed to buy paint. Maybe if we show people we started working then maybe they will join hands to assist.

“We know she wants to go back home but we decided that because she was was still weak and the house still had a smell to take her to a family friend.”

Elinah Mndawe said she has been struggling to sleep after the incident but is grateful to everyone who has helped.

“I worry all the time and I keep asking myself how this happened,” she said.

“This fire ruined a lot of my things and where will I get them because I’m old now and unable to work. I miss being at my house so much but there’s nothing I can do.

“I just want to thank my neighbours for all the help they are giving me and hope God can bless them.”

Mndawe said she is still having a hard time breathing as she inhaled a lot of smoke during the fire.

“I inhaled a lot of smoke during the fire so I cough a lot at night. They tried to help me at the hospital but I feel like there’s still smoke in my lungs.”