From their beloved pet to all their earthly goods – the Czech couple from Cullinan lost it all on August 21. Michael (35) and Tanya (32) Czech are still reeling from the loss.
They have lived in a wendy house on a plot on Zonderwater Road in Cullinan for the past four years.
The couple ended up in the dwelling when Michael lost his job. This resulted in their children going into temporary foster care.
“Matthew (1) and Andrew (5) are currently at Roodekrans in Johannesburg, while we were trying to sort out our lives,” explained Tanya.
The Czech couple had turned their 8m by 6m wooden box into a comfortable home by adding a bathroom and attaching a caravan to the structure.
“It might not have been much in the eyes of others, but it was our home,” said Tanya.
The couple and their two friends, Rian van Rooyen (34) and Enrique Marais (26) went out on the night of the fire to buy sugar.
They closed Shaka, their Rottweiler, in the dwelling to stop him from running after them. The group arrived home as the fire engulfed the place. The fire was too hot to open the wendy house for Shaka.
Their beloved pet could not escape the blaze. They heard him growling from inside, and then Shaka went quiet.
“We struggled to extinguish the fire. We even threw sand on the flames while waiting for the firefighters to help us,” said Tanya.
“Shaka was four years old and was such a loving and adorable dog. He always wanted to show love and was like one of our children.”
Everything in and around the wendy house burnt to ash, even the Nissan 1 400 van, standing about two meters away from the house.
Michael bought it to fix up to start his own transport business in Cullinan. He hoped by transporting furniture, he would make enough money to open his mechanical workshop.
The laptop on which Tanya earned a living with typing work also perished in the fire. It is not yet known what caused the fire.
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The couple now lives in a tent on the plot to prevent thieves from stealing the few things they have left. They are deeply hurt.
“We are trying to stay positive and would like to rebuild our home to get reunited with our children,” said Tanya.
Rebuilding their home is the only way the reunion can happen. However, the Czechs do not know how rebuilding would be possible.
They need help with clothes, bedding, furniture, building materials and anything to help them rebuild their home.
Anyone who wants to help can contact Tanya on 076 779 5573.
