Family hope restored after house is refurbished following gas leakage incident
The IFP fully refurbished the Kganyago family home after a gas leakage incident that occurred earlier in the year leaving the family hopeless.
The Kganyago family was left auspicious after the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) handed over their fully refurbished family home in Meadowlands Zone 9, Soweto, on October 20, following a gas leakage explosion that claimed the life of one family member.
The incident occurred on August 11, 2026, a few minutes before 13:00, when EMS firefighters responded to a four-roomed house engulfed in flames. Family members were transported to hospital after sustaining burns.
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“We would firstly like to convey our deepest condolences to the family on the life lost. When I first heard of this project I was impressed because the young people behind it, who are our councillor candidate and councillor, could have really chosen to do something else. However, they have chosen to give back to their community and this says a lot about them. We are here to put into action what our slogan says: ‘We work for you’,” said IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa.
Family representative Jeffrey Kganyago shared that as the only surviving sibling of the family, his hope has been restored.
He said: “My hope was taken away as I was mourning my sister. However, it has been restored by this selfless act by these people who saw it fit to make a touching impact on the lives of our family. Our dignity has been restored. It is encouraging to know that when something of this nature happens, there is a community silently looking and figuring out what to do.”
MMC for Human Settlements Mlungisi Mabaso told Urban News that the city appreciates the contribution made by the IFP. He shared his experience with Jeffrey and recalled having a lengthy talk about life lessons during his visit to the family home.
He added that although he initially lost hope after seeing the condition of the house, engineers were able to instil confidence that they could bring the home back to life.
The family also received essential furniture, such as beds, couches, and a stove.
