Family loses everything in winter shack fire

A 33-year-old man returned home to find his home in Sonderwater informal settlement, Khutsong, up in flames on Wednesday 1 June. John Modikwane, who resides in the shack along with his two sisters, had left them behind at home when he went to Maxhoseng Section. In the meantime, however, they had also decided to lock up and go somewhere. Strangers later told John that his shack was burning and, when he got there, he found community members in his yard, desperately trying to put out the blaze. They told him that the fire had started in a corner
of his bedroom but, he insists, he had left nothing switched on when he left. By the time the fire department
arrived at the scene, the Modikwane family had lost all their possessions. With nowhere to sleep and nothing but the
clothes on their backs, John and his sisters say they did not hear from their ward councilor for the first six days after
their ordeal. When Lusi Qenepe did eventually arrive on Monday, 6 June, she was apparently chased away by the
community members. The DA has since helped with clothes and blankets and the party is planning to rebuild the
shack. Mrs Nomalizo Galadile, a member of the street committee in the area, expressed her thanks to the DA for the assistance they have offered. Any members of the community who are in a position to help the family and would like to do so should contact John

on 061 928 9033.