A FAMILY from Mkhazini near KwaMakhutha is hoping to get some assistance from the municipality to help them piece their lives together again after a fire gutted their home recently.

ALSO READ: Fire rips through Amanzimtoti home

Bonga Mathonsi said the incident happened on Thursday, February 3, following a load shedding power outage.

“The power in the area went out at 16:00 as scheduled on Wednesday, February 2, but did not return two hours later as it was supposed to. It only came back on the following day at 14:00,” said Mathonsi.

He was not home when the power came back on, but he said he received a call informing him that the house was on fire. This was less than 30 minutes after the power came back on. Mathonsi’s daughter, Siphumelele, said she was sitting in the lounge downstairs with her son when he suddenly started feeling sick.

“I took him to the bathroom and while there, I noticed smoke and I called out to my mother, who realised that it was coming from the top floor,” said Sphumelele.

As Mathonsi quickly made his way home after being called, there was nothing that could be saved from the top floor, which contained three bedrooms and a lounge. The fire brigade trucks from Umlazi and Amanzimtoti managed to reach the burning house and were able to contain the fire before it could reach the bottom floor. Mathonsi’s wife, Thokozani, said ward 67 councillor, Sphephelo Mnyandu, and an official from the disaster management unit arrived at the scene on the day of the fire, but she has not heard anything from them since.

“As residents, it is painful that the people that we voted for have not done anything to assist us. The only help we have received has been from our neighbours, relatives, and our church. All our important documents, including IDs were destroyed. On that day we slept in the car as the bottom floor was still full of smoke and we were not sure if the fire will reignite again,” said Thokozani.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. Mathonsi had no insurance on the house as he was still putting final touches on it.

Ward 67 councillor, Mnyandu, said after he was informed of the fire, he rushed to the Mathonsi home the same day and met with the family.

“I then notified eThekwini Municipality, who sent an official from the disaster management unit to assess the situation. From that assessment, it is the city’s duty to determine how the victims can be assisted. What I can say is that on my part, I have done everything that is required of me as a councillor,” said Mnyandu.

eThekwini spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, said there is no monetary assistance provided for replacement of furniture and appliances or clothing in cases of fire damage.

“The owner of the home would have to enquire with their respective insurance provider for claims. However, we encourage the family to make contact with their respective ward councillor if they have not received any assistance in terms of what the city can assist with, as mentioned above,” he said.

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