Vosloorus butchery loses over R500k due to fire

Eskom’s stage five load-shedding has left the Legodi family devastated after their business, Sechaba’s Butcher, burnt to the ground when power was restored on the night of February 12 on the corner of Hatting and Moagi streets, Sotho Section, Vosloorus.

It is suspected a power surge caused by load-shedding sparked the fire. Sechaba’s Butcher caught fire 20 minutes after the restoration of power.

The fire led to the business losing about R250 000 worth of meat and groceries in stock, said founder Joel Mputlane Sechaba Legodi (68).

This excludes separate stock in the storeroom that belonged to Legodi’s wife, Pody Matriza Legodu (67), including blankets and bicycles worth about R150 000.

The cost estimate for the equipment is between R300 000 to R400 000. This equipment includes four fridges, fryers, stoves and a meat slicer.

Legodi said he was resting on his bed watching TV in his room at 22:20 when one of the boys nearby the butchery rushed to his home to tell them their property was on fire.

“I immediately became afraid because I am familiar with the damage caused by fire. While going to the shop, I kept asking myself what had happened. The fire was strong. Even the neighbours who could have attempted to stop the fire with buckets of water were not going succeed,” said Legodi.

“No one could call the fire station, so I had to rush to Vosloorus Police Station to report it. When the police arrived, they saw the fire had ravished the property. Everything was gone, the equipment and stock.”

He said this was not the first time it happened. In fact, it was the third time their butchery went up in flames.
Legodi said the main challenge for shops selling food is that employees forget to switch off the stove at the end of the business day.

A stove that staff left on caused the first two incidents. However, a stove did not cause the recent incident, he said.

He said on the fateful evening, he asked his employees if they had switched off the stove and the main switch when they were about to knock off at 18:00, and they said they had.

He then asked his daughter-in-law to confirm, and she found that the workers had, indeed, switched off both.

“After the first two fire incidents, we always switch off the stove and the stove’s main switch. We only leave the fridges on,” said Legodi.

He said his wife was the worst affected because they both managed the business, but she did most things.

“When I drove to the scene, my wife followed me on foot. I saw her approach and she was screaming with her hands on top of her head. She went back home because she could not stand it.

“There was a time I returned home to fetch a jacket, and I found her kneeling and praying. I never had time to comfort her. My mind was on the scene.”

He said his daughter was also crying, and he had to be strong for them, not because he was not hurting, but because he had to pick up the pieces.

“We cannot give up. If you decide on throwing in the towel, what will you use when you need it to wipe your face?”

He said the lesson for him was that it is vital to invest in people, citing that there were people around the scene who were willing to help but who were overpowered by the fire.

“I could see that it is important to invest in people because they are here. Even those who were helping clean were the community and church members.

He said the shop was not insured, but not because he did not know about it or did not want insurance.

He further said that the country’s economy and competition with foreign-owned shops had slowed business. It is difficult for local businesses to afford insurance because they operate in survival mode.

“It is worth it to have it. Remember, we come from the 2021 July unrest where shops were looted, and that was an eye opener to say we need insurance, but we are still recovering from our loss.”

Legodi has not approached the local ward councillor or sought help to repair his property because he is focused on cleaning.

He said it becomes more difficult for him when he sees the mess, adding he will calm down once the rubble is removed.

“What amazed me is that a few business people came to comfort us. A customer who usually buys food here also came to offer his support.

“On February 14, three members of Operation Dudula also came and told us they were assigned to find out what had happened. They offered to go out and seek help with whatever I need,” said Legodi.

He does not know in which direction the business will go, given it was uninsured, and he does not know where to go for help.

Community members, business people and associations who wish to help the family rebuild their business can call Legodi on 073 524 1500.