Kelvin resident rebuilds her life after deadly house fire

After a devastating house fire claimed the life of her mother and destroyed her family home, 28-year-old Thato Lekonyane, from Kelvin, said the community support has helped her survive one of the darkest periods in her life.

Lekonyane lost everything on April 8, including clothing, furniture, food, documents, and the 15-room family home. She said, at the time of the incident she was away from home, celebrating her two-year-old son’s birthday with her partner Austin Pearson, when they received a call from Austin’s mother informing them that the house was on fire. They rushed back home and upon the arrival, emergency services, police officials, Kelvin Residents Association, and Sandton SPCA were already at the scene. “Emergency officials were unable to get inside the yard to extinguish the fire, because the dogs were standing by the gate, I had to get inside, catch the dogs and give them to the SPCA.

Read more: Kelvin house fire victim still finding her feet after losing mother and home

“It took a while before they could fully extinguish the fire, but eventually they slowed it down, they went inside to see if there was someone. At that moment I also wasn’t really sure, but I knew that my mom didn’t go out and she was most likely in the house.”

She added that an hour after the firefighters managed to contain the blaze, officials confirmed the heartbreaking news that her mother’s body had been discovered inside. “They asked me to come and identify the body, but I could not do it, it was too much for me emotionally, so they asked another family member to do it.

“It was one of the worst days of my life. Usually, when someone passes because of sickness, there’s some kind of preparation emotionally, but with the incident of a house fire, everything happens unexpectedly. It feels like the world shatters.”

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Lekonyane said she had depended heavily on her mother for both emotional and financial support as her mother was running an early childhood development centre from the home. “I lost the person that I cared so dearly about. She was my rock, my supporter, she was everything to me. She supported me emotionally and financially, because currently I’m not working. What is more painful is that the cause of the fire is still unknown, but we suspect an electrical fault.”

Despite the heartbreak, Lekonyane expressed gratitude to Pearson, Kelvin residents, and local organisations who have supported her during this difficult time. “I’m fortunate to have Austin and the Kelvin community. They have supported me a lot, from accommodation, food, clothing, furniture, and even helped with errands and financial support. I am so grateful.”

She also thanked organisations, including Sandton SPCA, Highveld Irrigation, Acacia House Bed and Breakfast, Mikes Foundation, and Ashraful Aid for their support. Currently unemployed, Lekonyane said rebuilding her life has been difficult. She is appealing for additional assistance, particularly with improving security at the damaged property, which, according to Lekonyane, has become a target for thieves attempting to steal scrap metal and other materials from the ruins.
As she continues rebuilding her life after unimaginable loss, she is hopeful that community support and employment opportunities will help her secure a more stable future for her young family. She holds a degree in graphic design and marketing, but is open to all opportunities.

Details: Contact Thato Lekonyane on 082 268 3864 or email at thatolekonyane5@gmail.com.

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