Granny’s shack burns down in eMbalenhle
Three toddlers and a baby are now without any clothes.
A shack burned down in Ext 18, eMbalenhle on June 13 and the family is now in dire straits.
The family was sitting in the main house when they heard an explosion outside.
They found the shack in their backyard was on fire.
The family called their councillor for help but claimed that he said he will come in the morning as he was sleeping.
They alerted the fire department for assistance, but the fire had already been extinguished by the time they arrived.
The fire was extinguished before it reached an adjacent stand-alone room made of concrete slabs.
The shack that burned was the home of the family’s grandmother, who is a traditional healer. She did not want to be identified.
The grandmother was also using the shack as an initiation school for teaching people how to become a traditional healer.
Everything was lost, including furniture and clothes.
Her grandchildren living with her are now without any clothes.
The children who desperately need clothes are a boy (2), two girls (aged two and three), and a baby boy of four months.
The family suspects that the fire was caused by an electric surge after a power outage due to the Govan Mbeki Municipality often switching off the electricity without notifying the residents.
“Any help with clothes for the children will be appreciated,” said Sibongile Msebenzi.
If anyone wants to help this family, they can contact Sibongile Msebenzi on 072 236 9903.
The municipality spokesperson, Lucky Mhlongo, said it was unfortunate for the family to face such an incident.
Mhlongo said they suspect there was not an electricity meter box at the house.
“They owe the municipality a huge amount of money for services.”
Mhlongo said the municipality has two schemes for community members who are in arrears with their municipal accounts, namely a debt incentive scheme and an indigent scheme.
“People should stop tampering with the municipality’s infrastructure. The municipality is in the process of cutting services to all those owing and stealing electricity,” said Mhlongo.
