POLOKWANE – The Westenburg community recently showed solidarity when they joined hands in helping Christina Adams get back on her feet after her house burned down in John Smith Street on Friday morning.
The 65-year-old Adams lives with her 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all aged between one and 21 years. Her son, Hendry (30) lives in a room next to the house.
Adams and her family lost all their belongings in the fire, which according to preliminary assessments of the cause, was due to an electrical fault.
Adams explained that the fire started in a bedroom next to the living room and spread to the rest of the house.
“The main switch in the kitchen exploded due to the heat and that also caused the fire to spread faster through the house.
“I tried to douse the fire with water, but eventually had to stand and watch how everything I owned burn to ashes. All my hard work gone, just like that.”
While waiting for the fire brigade to arrive, the community pitched in and helped to fight the blaze; their efforts all in vain.
Hendry’s hand was injured in the fire when he ran into the burning house to look for the children.
“I was in my room and heard screams that there was a fire, and people wanting to locate the children. I ran into the burning house, looking for the children.
“There was smoke everywhere and I could barely see. I rushed to the room where the children usually sleep and when I opened the door, I was greeted by flames and smoke. I grabbed the mattress from the bed, but this too was on fire and I injured my hand,” Hendry recalls.
Besides Adams’ house, her neighbour Katrina Leen’s house was also damaged.
The municipality issued notices to both Leen and Adams to declare their homes unsafe for occupation and a municipal team will visit the homes this week to assess the damages and safety of the structures.
Hendry’s room next to the house was not damaged and Adams is temporarily staying there while her grandchildren have been placed with extended family and friends.
Family receives assistance from SASSA, community
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) assisted the family with 10 blankets and mattresses and also some toiletries on Friday. The municipal disaster management team also gave blankets and a tent to help the family.
The community assisted by cleaning the house the following day, and a Westenburg Disaster Management Committee was formed to help the family.
The family also received help from the Polokwane Child and Family Welfare who invited the grandmother and her grandchildren to come to the welfare to select clothes for them. Sassa also promised to bring them food.
The Westenburg Secondary School School Governing Body has pledged to help the children with school uniforms and they also received a pledge from Good Hope Primary School for uniforms.
We are still looking for other sponsors to help with the rebuilding of the house and someone who could assist with trauma counselling, – Westenburg Disaster Management Committee.
The Westenburg Disaster Committee will hold a meeting at 19:00 at Uncle Peter’s Bottlestore in Ben Harris Street today (Tuesday).
According to municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, the Municipal Participation Team, which operates from the Office of the Speaker will reassess the situation after the meeting.
For more information on how to help the family, residents can contact Eugene Lyle at 082 316 0960 or Zellie Whitehead at 073 990 5974 or Merriam Adams at 060 393 9388.
