eMzinoni man rebuilds his shack after fire and scam
The Ridge Times recently caught up with Sibusiso Sikgobela to check on his progress since our last report on May 9 about the scam.
Sibusiso Sikgobela (40) has rebuilt his shack thanks to generous donations from the public and materials he was able to salvage.
Sikgobela’s shack burned down on the morning of April 24. His three children, Sinenhlanhla (15), Thapelo (4), and Lerato (2), were inside when the fire broke out. Fortunately, they escaped unharmed after neighbours spotted the fire and quickly evacuated them to safety.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Sikgobela rebuilt on the same land, which he had previously considered a bad omen due to earlier fires on the stand. However, after the land was prayed over and anointed, he feels more settled and ready to move forward with his family in their new home.
After the fire, Sikgobela was scammed out of R1 000 while searching for another stand to build on. The Ridge Times recently caught up with Sikgobela to check on his progress since our last report on May 9 about the scam.
“People from all over helped me a lot. I had calls from Secunda, eMbalenhle, and Kinross, asking how they could assist,” said Sikgobela, expressing deep gratitude to all who supported him.
Residents donated bedding, sponge mattresses, second-hand clothing, tin sheets, and money towards building materials.
“God answered my prayers,” Sikgobela said.
He has not recovered the money lost in the scam but chooses not to dwell on it.
“I’m not a fighter. I don’t like arguing with people over what happened. It was painful, and I lost my mind for a moment. But I don’t want more problems. I’m thinking of myself and my family. God knows,” he explained.
With the help of two men, Sikgobela has been rebuilding piece by piece. As donations came in, he visited the hardware store to purchase building materials and pay his helpers.
To complete the shack, Sikgobela still needs three doors and frames, cement for the floors, beds or thicker mattresses (single and double), wardrobes, and furniture.
He works at the Bethal SPCA. Donations of new or second-hand items or money towards building materials would be greatly appreciated.
For more information or to help, contact the Bethal SPCA office at 066 397 1630 or email office@spcabethal.co.za
