House fire claims two lives

“It’s God’s will and I can not stand against God’s will,” said the shattered mother and sister, Ms Zanaluhle Simelane, who lost her son, Khethokuhle (18) and brother, Siyanda (20) in a house fire.

Simelane’s mother, Ms Lindeni Simelane who was also in the house in Pine Ridge on Monday, August 12 is fighting for her life in hospital, after she was admitted for smoke inhalation.

Her condition is still serious.

The neighbours of the family stared at the remains of the burnt house in disbelief, after they tried their utmost best to extinguish the fire that tore through the house just before 23:00.

A neighbour said that the community in the area responded to the mother’s shrieking cries for help as she could not escape the house and called for assistance from her bedroom window.

The neighbour added that the fire spread extremely fast throughout the house.

By the time the neighbours arrived, the flames had already reached the roof.

“It was just all over. Everyone was trying to extinguish the fire using hose pipes and buckets of water. In the meantime they tried to get the three family members out of the house but the burglar bars made it difficult. The neighbours managed to get the mother out through her bedroom window,” the neighbour stated.

Simelane added: “My son’s body was found in his bedroom. He and my brother shared a room and my brother’s body was found in the passage. We suspect that he was trying to get out the house.”

The bedroom of the two boys is next to one of the doors leading out of the house, but the flames and smoke made it impossible for them to escape.

“My brother was also asthmatic; we think that all the smoke was just too much for him and he could not reach the door in time to unlock it in an attempt to escape the burning house.”

The neighbour said that they do not know for sure what caused the fire, but: “The power went off just before 22:00 on Monday evening. The power was restored close to 23:00 and shortly thereafter the house was engulfed with flames. According to the neighbour this is the sixth house in three years that burnt down shortly after the power was restored after a power outage.

In a separate, smaller house on the same yard lives three other family members.

“My other brother who also resides in the flat was at work but everyone who lived close by assisted with the fire, trying to extinguish it. I came from Blancheville as soon as I heard about the fire and I still waited for the fire brigade. They took very long to arrive,” Simelane added. “In the meantime everyone was still busy with the fire as it swept through the entire house.”

Police stated in a report that when they arrived at the home, community members were still busy trying to extinguish the fire but the two boys had already died.

Simelane said that the family has lived in the house since 2003.

The two scholars were at Pine Ridge Combined School, both in grade 12.

Simelane said: “They were busy studying for exams. They were very excited to finish and start their lives.”

Evidence of this was in their bedroom, where half-burnt school books lay where the mattress of the bed should have been.

The school confirmed that several learners as well as educators received counselling after they heard about the incident and the passing of their fellow learners.

Numerous school kids stood around the house, in shock of what had happened.

The police have in the meantime registered an inquest docket after the death of the two victims.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by a team of forensic specialists.

The police will in the meantime await the outcome of the investigation but have expressed their compassion to the family.