The Randgate fire that left a family of five with only the clothes on their backs, was helped extinguished by a homeless man.
Vielies van Wyk was close to the house when the herald arrived on scene, looking tan as a result of the flames.
According to Van Wyk and a neighbour, he grabbed a garden hose from a house adjacent to the one that had caught fire and began spraying water at the spitting flames.
He assisted Antonie Joubert, resident of the home that had burst into flames.
“I was passing by and smelled something burning. I thought it was a nearby veld but when I walked past the house, I saw a room was on fire and immediately tried to find something to help put out the fire,” Van Wyk said.
When the herald asked Van Wyk for his contact number he said, “I don’t have one, you know, I live on the streets. I just wanted to help out the family. I was actually on my way to welfare for some old clothes.”
Van Wyk disappeared shortly after the herald had spoken to him.
Related articles:
Randgate fire leaves family of five homeless
Update: Wiring allegedly the main cause
