Woman who lost four sons in fire gets new house
“It will take time for the family to recover from this tragedy but we felt building the family a home would help ease the pain”
A mother who lost her four sons in a house fire last year has received some consolation in the form of a new home from the Gauteng government and private sector.
Maggie Mashiloane lost her sons, Fortunate, Aubrey, Promise and Kamogelo, in an unexplained house fire in Mount Anderson Street in Kirkney, Pretoria West in the early hours of November 10 last year.
The boys were aged between six and 24.
The fire also claimed the life of a domestic worker. Maggie and her toddler, however, managed to escape the fire with only minor injuries.
Her new house in Soshanguve was handed over to her by Gauteng Cogta MEC Lebogang Maile on Thursday.
“It will take time for the family to recover from this tragedy but we felt building the family a home would help ease the pain,” said Maile.
“We are happy that we could have lived up to the commitment that we made.
“We also want to thank the company that helped build this house because we did not have enough resources as government to respond to the family’s plight.”
Maile explained that they would build her a house – but not as government because there are a lot of people waiting for houses.
“We have over a million people who are in the queue waiting for houses. It would have not been fair to those who have been waiting for long for us to build her a home.
“We thought it would be better to approach business people to help us build the house.”
He said the house was worth R700 000 when buying it on bond and would now be part of her assets.
“She will also get the title deed so that she owns the house. Giving the house to the family made me feel proud and ecstatic. It shows that we are taking a step in the right direction.”
Mashiloane thanked everyone involved in helping her and her child.
“I am happy that the MEC kept his promise,” she said.
“The pain will never go away but I want to thank everyone who supported me. This house will always be a reminder of my children.”
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