Lucky escape for fire victim (78)
An elderly woman lit a candle during load shedding and fell asleep.
It’s a miracle that Flora Dumazile Ntobela (78) made it out alive of her house, which caught fire, in the Makhoso area in Mtwalume recently.
The three bedroom house suffered extensive damage and has left the Ntobela family destitute.
They also lost all their documents such as IDs, bank and Sassa cards.
According to the pensioner’s daughter, Nelisiwe Ntobela, her mother lived on the property with her younger brother, Khehla Ntobela, however he resided in an outbuilding.
During load shedding, last Thursday evening, her mother lit a candle and fell asleep.
“She got up later and noticed her blanket on fire, she managed to put it out and went back to sleep. After some time, she got up again and found the house in flames.”
Ntobela said her mother screamed for help, fortunately, neighbours heard her and rushed to assist.
They helped her mother out of the bedroom as she was unable to do so on her own. Also, her brother was not at home that night.
“Looking at the damage, I am grateful to God that my mother did not die, even though we lost everything and will have to start again, but at least she is alive.”
Nelisiwe works as a domestic worker, a few days a week, and and cannot afford to rebuild.
“My sister had just done our monthly grocery shopping, now everything is gone.”
When the Herald visited the house, the elderly woman had gone out to reapply for some of her documents.
The Ntobela family will now have to share a two room house.
The family is looking for assistance and would appreciate help from the community or government. Contact Nelisiwe on 083 3429751.
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