Fire ravages 13 shacks in Holomisa informal settlement
The destitute 23 homeless dwellers also lost their identity documents, passports and their children’s birth certificates.
A total of 13 shacks were burnt beyond recognition in the early hours of August 24, leaving 23 people homeless at Holomisa informal settlement, Windmill Park.
According to witnesses, the fire broke out in one of the shacks where a four-year-old girl and her mother were sleeping.
Elliot Gumede, whose shack also caught fire, said: “The fire was seen by the four-year-old girl who notified her mother that the shack was on fire. They managed to escape unharmed and to alert neighbours that their shack was in flames.
“The fire became worse and it spread to the neighbour’s shack. We don’t even know what started it.”
Nearby, six to seven shacks also caught fire.
“I feel so sad just talking about what happened because I lost so many things. I am self-employed. All my work tools such as grinders caught fire and so did other items including three fridges.”
“I have nothing left. All of my clothing were destroyed in the fire,” Gumede said.
Nosimo Mithi whose shack was also burnt beyond recognition, said when she noticed that her shack had caught fire, she rushed outside in her pyjamas.
“My neighbours managed to get into my shack to salvage some of my belongings including my television, blankets and sheets. All my clothes and furniture caught fire. My neighbours have been kind to me, and generously donated clothing.
“I feel so miserable because everything that I worked so hard for was destroyed by the fire within minutes,” Mithi said.
Shack fire survivors now rely on donations from their neighbours.
Ward 99 councillor Mduduzi Luvalo, Angel of Hope, the community centre based in the area and Pastor Shan Vandieman of Benoni, made a donation including soup, rice, toiletries, clothing, blankets to the homeless families.
The destitute families are pleading for assistance from the community to help them rebuild their lives.
Immediately, they also need assistance with food, clothes, blankets and toiletries.
To assist the families you may contact Agnes Makhubela (community leader) on 073 113 7964 and Mapaseka Monaheng (Angel of Hope) on 083 979 0352.
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