IN PICTURES: Miserable festive season for shack fire victims

The ugly face of poverty was on display as members of 450 Alexandra households left homeless by an alleged arson-related shack fire, rebuilt their homes.

They were left with only what they had on them when the inferno razed their corrugated and a few brick and mortar shacks along Vincent Tshabalala Road on 6 December. “We have no option but to rebuild from any material we can retrieve including using the scorched and weakened corrugated sheets as our money was also burnt.

“We need at least shelter for protection against the rain,” said Khotso who gave only his first name as he added plywood to his nondescript one-roomed home.

He is a casual construction worker and is uncertain where he will get the money to buy cement for flooring, let alone for property replacement. “I lost everything, R4 000 in cash I had saved for registration at CJC [Central Johannesburg College] next year, matric certificates, identify documents and those of my three siblings, clinic cards, study books, a computer, music system and a bed,” Khotso said with a sly smile that masked deep-seated anger, frustration and helplessness.

He sought shelter for the siblings elsewhere while their mother resides in Pretoria. He said that he ran from River Park when he saw smoke engulfing the shacks. “On arrival, the fire brigade had already barricaded the area and were battling the fire which spread quickly, destroying everything in its way. “Luckily, it was daytime and there were few injuries of those who braved the inferno trying to retrieve what they could.”

His shack was between two electricity pylons, their metal frames at the bottom showed the impact of the fire. “They have been weakened and we fear they will fall, worsening the disaster from a resulting fireball which will destroy everything in its path including formal structures if Eskom doesn’t do something quickly. Children who pass nearby are shocked.”

Khotso didn’t have insurance for any of the destroyed assets and the piece jobs will see him slobber for years before he is back to normal, that is if he still has the zeal. Poverty dealt him a cruel blow but, he has no option other than to put a roof over his head while pondering and plotting the future with the siblings looking up to him, barring any charitable support.

Neighbour Jabulani Buthelezi, a lecturer at the Alex branch of the Central Joburg College was digging the foundation to rebuild his brother’s shack while he was at work. “All you see are the remains of all he ever had,” he said pointing at ashes in a bare spot where there was once a bed, television, stove, fridge and clothes.

“Eish! It’s a disastrous loss and we have to help them.

“What’s worse is that it occurred during the festive season when most victims had stocked all sorts of goodies from their bonuses and stokvel dividends.

“But now, they have nothing to eat, no shelter, nothing to carry to their expectant relatives,” Buthelezi said, looking at the darkening sky as rain clouds gathered.

Other neighbours seemed unperturbed and were putting in extra effort to raise their structures.

Oupa Sako the PR councillor for the EFF commiserated with the victims in the company of officials from the Department of Social Development who were collecting data for their disaster relief and social support intervention. “It would have been catastrophic if the fire had been at night.

“We should all help regardless of political affiliation including pushing the authorities to respond with haste rather than leave it to charity organisations.”

This was said in reference to contributions from NPOs, Gift of the Givers and Phutadichaba Community Development Centre, Universal and God Never Fails churches and individuals.

Sako said the shacks were on the land of an unknown owner, which many claimants tried to acquire fraudulently using court orders, but in vain. “We encourage them to rebuild and the authorities to assist them or seek an alternative place.”

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the arson and murder of its alleged perpetrator apparently by some of the victims.