A case of arson has been opened at the Rosebank Police Station after a fire destroyed an abandoned house
ROSEBANK – About 10 people have lost all their belongings in a house fire.
A residence on Keyes Avenue in Rosebank burnt down on the evening of 9 April and a case of arson has been opened at Rosebank Police Station.
The house, which is owned by a board yet unknown, had been abandoned for about a year when a few squatters moved onto the property.
A notice which hung on the gate to the property notified that the property had been approved for demolition by the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority on 10 June 2014.
Phyllis Hlungwani, who has been living on the property for a month, received a call from one of the other residents to say there had been a fire and all their possessions had been destroyed.
At the time of the fire, there were 10 people staying on the property, but no one had sustained injuries. Doris Nkoane was sleeping in one of the rooms of the house when she awoke to find a fire outside her door.
“As I got out I screamed ‘we need help’ and then someone came and phoned for the fire brigade,” said Nkoane. “I heard a noise that sounded like rain and after that, I opened my eyes and I saw the fire.”
Another woman who had also been staying on the property, Palesa Tlhoaele lost all her belongings including all her books and stationery for school. “I lost all my books, my calculator and my shoes. I also lost my history, life sciences and maths books,” said Thloaele.
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Spokesperson for Rosebank Police Station, Bongi Mdletshe said a case of arson had been opened at the station and there would be an investigation into the cause of the fire, which would take place over the next week. Mdletshe said there was running water at the house but the electricity had been cut off.
“That house was owned by a board but unfortunately they have not been to that house for a long time. We have appealed to the board to come forward and make a statement about the condition of the house before they left it,” said Mdletshe.
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette could not establish who’s name the house was in at the time of going to print.
Details: If you have any clothing, blankets, stationery or food that you would be willing to donate, contact Phyliss Hlungwani on
073 265 7621.
Edited by Beryl Knipe
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