VANDERBIJLPARK. – A fire consumed everything in a house, leaving pensioner Betty Mogotlong (73) and her grandson with only the clothes they were wearing.
Mother and woman of the cloth of the Faith Apostolic Mission Church of Christ led by Reverend Molefe, was left with only her church outfit.
The outfit was saved by a neighbour who managed to pull it out of a burning wardrobe.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Mogotlong could not explain how the veld fire started on August 14 at Mullerstuine Plots in Vanderbijlpark:
“I had just left the house around 13:30 and I had not gone far before I heard neighbours screaming as they rushed in the direction of my house.
“The fire came towards the house by means of a veldfire in tall, dry grass. It caught the shack before destroying the whole house.
The speed of the fire made me think of ‘vutha’ (fire sent by witchcraft). “The more we tried to control it, the more it strengthened.
“Water buckets were of no help. By the time Emfuleni Fire and Rescue arrived, everything had been burned to ashes.”
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster while standing next to a remaining wall with some collapsed bricks, Mogotlong thanked both the neighbours and the fire department for their effort.
She is temporarily living with her neighbour. Community members are welcome to assist at this time of need if they want to put a roof over her head by calling Sedibeng Ster on (016) 950 7000.
