Linda Twala urges community leaders and business to lend a helping hand to victims of fire
MARLBORO – Linda Twala discusses the recent inferno in Marlboro.
The owner of Twala AmaAfrika Funeral Services, philanthropist Linda Twala has appealed to community, political leaders, and the business community to lend a helping hand to the victims of the recent inferno in Marlboro.
This was after the residents in Vasco Da Gama Streets informal settlements in Marlboro lost their valuables when an inferno swept away their shacks, leaving 48 families homeless and one life lost during the incident.
Twala said it was painful and unacceptable to see people living without water and sanitation for almost two weeks after their shack were destroyed by fire.
“I am appealing to all leaders in our community to lend a helping hand to these people. They have lost their belongings and they have nowhere to go. Let’s help them rebuild their shacks and their lives. It pains me to see people, men and women with their children, sleeping in the cold,” Twala said.
It is alleged that the fire started in a shack of the 78-year-old man who died when he attempted to save his belongings from the engulfing flames of fire.
Phaswa Kekana who lives with his wife and two children said he lost everything in the fire that started when he was at work.
He said the help they received from the City of Johannesburg and humanitarian organisations like The Gift of the Givers, Red Cross and other community-based organisation could not reach all their needs.
“We lost all the little we had and depended on as the family. Food, identity documents and school uniforms for our children. We have nothing and we were forced to sleep on the stand where my shack was built to ensure that no one comes and build on it,” Kekana said.
“We plead with all those who can, to help us rebuild our shacks. We thank all the organisations that came and offered help where they could but it was not enough because we are still sleeping in the cold.”
Ward 109 councillor Liaquad Ebrahim said they were still waiting for mobile temporary toilets from a company that has a contract with the municipality.
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