eMbalenhle-boy (11) saves two of his four siblings before shack goes up in flames

eMBALENHLE – Ayanda (5) and Andiswa (2) Mkhwanazi survived the inferno that scourged through the tiny shack they called home in Ext 22 on Friday night, 23 April.

Their big sister, Lerato (9), and baby brother, Siphosethu (10 months), did not.

Tsepo (11), the eldest of the Mhkwanazi children, was unable to get them to safety in time.

This quiet boy’s eyes reflect more pain than the scars on his left arm inflicted by a previous tragedy in which another sibling, two-year-old Unathi, died when a container of boiling water fell on them in June last year.

He saw how Lerato and baby Siphosethu burned to death and all of the family’s earthly possession go up in flames.

The five children were home alone on that Friday night because their mother, Ms Ntombifuthi Mkhwanazi, had to take her ill husband, Mr Nompandlana Dinezweni, to Evander Hospital where she waited for him to be admitted.

“I fell asleep on a hospital bench while we waited,” she explained.

Ms Mkhwanazi was awaken by Tsepo, Ayanda and Andiswa.

“I was shocked to see them at the hospital.

“When they told me the ambulance brought them to hospital, I realised that something was not right,” said a heartbroken Ms Mkhwanazi.

She rushed to the paramedics to ask after the other two children and were told that Lerato and Siphosethu were at a clinic in eMbalenhle because her shack was on fire.

Ms Mkhwanazi’s last flicker of hope that her oldest daughter and baby were still alive, was snuffed out when she arrived home.

“My two children died in that shack. They never came out.

“My 11-year-old son and a neighbour managed to save only the two little ones from the burning shack, but Lerato and Siphosethu died,” cried Ms Mkhwanazi.

She said the children left a candle burning that night.

“We do not have electricity and it was getting dark. The children lit the candle and left it burning for when I returned from the hospital.

“They thought I was already on my way back,” explained Ms Mkhwanazi.

“They don’t know what happened, but they woke up from the smoke and flames inside the shack. Tsepo was able to save Ayanda and Andiswa.”

The sobbing mother had to borrow blankets from a neighbour with which to cover herself while she mourns her children.

They lost everything, including the children’s clothes, documents, school books and furniture.
eMbalenhle mortuary helped her with a coffin and her family managed to pool together to buy a second coffin in which to bury Lerato and Siphosethu.

Both children were buried at their mother’s home in Lothair outside Ermelo.

Her husband, Mr Dinezweni, is still in the hospital. Anyone who wants to help the family can contact Ms Ntombifuthi Mkhwanazi on 072 576 7777.