Little girl dies in Gamalakhe house fire
Police said the necessary emergency services responded , however the child died on the scene.
Little Phelokuhle Sikotoyi burnt to death in Gamalakhe, Ezintandaneni in Ward 28 recently.
Speaking to the Fever, the family of the one-year-old said the house went up in flames, just after power was restored after loadshedding.
They added that the child was burnt beyond recognition after the fire was put out. They said all their groceries, children’s uniforms and birth certificates are also gone.
A family member who did not want to be named said: “Older people were in the house, but after they went out for a few seconds, they came back to this tragedy. Two children were in the house and the deceased child was sleeping when the incident happened. The neighbours notified us but the house was already burning in such a way that it was hard to put out the fire. Because the child was inside, the person who tried to get in and rescue the child, could not even get close to the door.”
She added that the lack of water in the area made it hard for them to put out the flames.
“We have been having water issues in Ezintandeni since 2018, there’s hardly ever a time when I am home and we have water. It was hard to even try and put out the fire. Even when water is restored in Gamalakhe, it is only restored in certain wards. What we generally do is collect dirty water in rivers, the type that looks like it is consumed by cattle. Even when water tankers come to Gamalakhe, I don’t ever see them. Our area seems orphaned. The councillor is of no help. Even when the house went up in flames, we did not see emergency services here,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ward 28 councillor Bekithemba Zulu said when he heard of the news, he called Ray Nkonyeni Municipality’s Disaster Centre.
“They came through to assist the family, bringing mattresses, food parcels and blankets. And when I came to pay my respects to the family the following day, I saw that the family still needs more help. Which is why I contacted the disaster centre again for more assistance. They promised to get back to me. I urge more people to come forward and assist the Sikotoyi family, especially the children, all their school uniforms were burnt and the situation in general in that home is not very good,” said Zulu.
Port Shepstone police spokesperson, Captain Petros Mpinge said police responded to a scene at Mkhize Road in Gamalakhe where a baby girl was found deceased 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,” he said.
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