Alex witnessed the death on 1 June, of a toddler from a shack fire signalling the begging of its winter body count.
This is a common occurrence of human decimation which seems to have no end in sight. The two-year-old victim, said to have burnt beyond recognition on a bed at a 16th Avenue home, was found facing down after the fire was doused by residents before the arrival of the fire brigade. Ward committee member Mary Matlala said a six-year-old sibling escaped from the inferno which occurred when the mother was said to have gone to buy meat for the evening meal. Suspicion was that the fire was ignited either from a paraffin stove that toppled over or from loose electric wiring.
Alex Police Station spokesperson Captain Stephen Malatji said the incident under investigation includes the possibility of child neglect and urged parents and the community to take issues of safety seriously.
Recounting the incident, area councillor Adolph Marema said only the surviving victim who is currently traumatised will shed light on the cause. “It was a sad and emotional scene for a defenceless and innocent child to perish in that manner and for the sibling who will live with the deadly impression of the scene for the rest of his or her life.”
Without apportioning blame, he said the mother’s absence was regrettable and her delay in returning home was concerning especially during a fire-prone season. Marema said the mother’s boyfriend arrived at the scene, expressing anger at the mother about the incident. He added that luckily, it didn’t spread to other shacks as it often does given their overcrowding. He commended the neighbours for their quick reaction.
The incident, Marema added, was an indictment on the authorities for failure to resolve Alex’s housing problem which has seemingly normalised shack dwelling resulting in fires, crime and also social and environmental decay. “Parents are traumatised by children burning to death and from desperation, they sometimes leave them locked in rooms when they go to work or seek employment as they can’t afford caregivers.”
He urged them to be innovative despite their economic challenges. Also, he called for creative methods on fire prevention awareness. “Clearly current methods are not adequate and have no impact, particularly, over the weekends when many residents are drunk and their judgment and parental roles impaired.”
He urged the City Council’s Department of Social Development and Sassa to conduct aggressive parenting education to enhance accountability and supervision over children and on their whereabouts every time. “Including when they have to go to the toilet as children are also vulnerable to other social ills like child trafficking and sexual predators.”
Nana Hadebe of the Joburg Emergency Management Services(EMS) urged residents to take fire safety as a collective responsibility by attending safety awareness sessions conducted all year round by officials from local fire stations including in schools. “Hundreds attend these sessions yearly and are expected to share tips with neighbours to help reduce the unnecessary loss of life and property.
“Simple things like keeping buckets of water, clearing access points for the EMS to the homes, applying safe use of candles, paraffin stoves and stopping illegal electricity connections will save lives,” Hadebe said.
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