On Tuesday evening (17 August), at around 18:15 tragedy struck the Martins* home in Klerk street. They were alerted by neighbours that they urgently needed to return home as their house was on fire. “We were just watching TV when my partner and I noticed that something smelled like it was burning. We checked the kitchen as we thought it might be our pots but it wasn’t,” one of the neighbours said. “My partner then went outside to find our neighbours house surrounded by a wild fire, for our safety I quickly grabbed my daughter [who is disabled] and we rushed outside,” she further explained The fire department rushed to the scene. “I’m still suffering from shock, anxiety and I’m unable to speak,” the owner of the house said. According to their neighbour, they were still settling into the neighbourhood as they had only purchased the home about three months ago “My sister is doing a lot better this morning (18 August) by the Grace of God they are safe,” Michelle*, the owner’s sister said. “Only the front part of the house is left but there is significant water damage,” she explained. Michelle further added that her sister and her fiance have been booked into a hotel by the insurance while the case is still being investigated. Neighbours are still in shock about what happened. The Herald asked the municipality for comment on what might have caused the fire but by thetime of going to print had not received any feedback. *Not their real names
