Following a fire at a complex in Windsor East on 31 August, Windsor Action Group chairperson Louise Mynhardt wants to create awareness about disasters.
“A disaster can happen at anytime and people must be prepared. Know your neighbour: You never know when you will need their help. After the fire the community did not hesitate to help and the Randburg Methodist Church gave shelter to the residents for a week. People donated clothes and food, and volunteers helped to clean up,” said Mynhardt.
According to Mynhardt the cause of the fire that broke out at Cathkin Peak North complex is still unknown, but luckily no one was injured. Four of the eight flats were destroyed, while the flats on the ground floor had almost no damage.
Vimbai Kandenga, who lives on the ground floor with her husband Audakwashe and her son David said, “We only had a little bit of water damage in the living room due to geysers on the top floor breaking. We were without electricity for two days and three days without water”.
The neighbouring complex assisted with providing water to the residents. Another resident Prudence Taonezvi said, “My husband and I weren’t at home, but we were called when the fire broke out. When I arrived at the complex a little boy with a pillow in his hands came running out of the building. Luckily our room wasn’t damaged that much so we recovered a lot of our belongings.”
One of the flat owners Antoinette Kriel said the building was insured and a structural engineer will inspect the top floor soon. “Reports on the rebuilding of the complex will be available next week,” she said.
