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Baby girl dies in house fire ’caused by loadshedding’

The family could not put out the fire due to not having any water.

The devastated family of Phelokuhle Sikotoyi (1), who died in a house fire in Magogogweni, Ezintandaneni in Gamalakhe last Friday afternoon believe it was loadshedding that caused the fire which claimed the life of the little girl.

The family said that the fire started moments after electricity was restored after a period of loadshedding.  Phelokuhle had been asleep in her room at the time. The situation was made worse as the family did not have water with which to attempt to put out the fire.

Margate Saps spokesman, Sergeant Sibu Ncane, confirmed the incident. “Gamalakhe police were called to the scene and found that there were two children in the room, the one-year-old, and a five-year-old, the latter who managed to escape the fire and survived.”

Phelokuhle Sikotoyi (1) who died in the fire.

“Police responded to a scene at Mkhize Road in Gamalakhe where a baby girl was found dead after a fire had occurred at the residence. The necessary emergency services responded, however the child died on the scene. The cause of the fire will be investigated via an inquest docket,” said Ncane.

There is concern that house fires, supposedly caused by loadshedding surges are becoming increasingly common. Often, the victims have nothing with which to rebuild their homes and usually don’t have insurance.

The question many are asking is who should be held responsible for repairs and rebuilding?  Ward 28 councillor, Bhekithemba Zulu, said that after being notified, he contacted Ray Nkonyeni Municipality Disaster Management to bring relief to the family.

Zulu said the relief given was ‘not enough’ and he urged the community to assist the family. He said he would ask the Department of Social Development to intervene, and appealed to those who could assist with school uniforms and clothing to do so.

In a separate incident (last year), a house in Mtwalume was engulfed by fire after loadshedding. An elderly woman, who escaped the fire, was left with nothing but the clothes on her back.

The only assistance she received was from members of the community and some relief from the RNM Disaster Management in the form of a food voucher, a mattress, and some blankets, but her home was not repaired.

RNM and Eskom were contacted for comment, but none had been forthcoming.

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