Children left with no school uniform after a blazing fire erupts
The following items were damaged: school uniforms, school bags, stationery, personal clothes (four children), wardrobes, beds, plugs are ruined and a broken window.
Emalahleni is in the middle of a cold season which requires one to keep warm at all times.
But all this kind of talk about warmth and having hot soup for dinner is a myth for the Mthethwa family. Two bedrooms of a house situated at Hlalanikahle, Extension 4(Phase 4) caught fire on the evening of Monday, May 8. Neighbours fortunately assisted to put out the fire but most of the things had burned.
How the ceiling looks after two bedrooms caught fire on Monday, May 8 at Hlalanikahle, Extension 4(Phase 4).
Busi Mthethwa who is one of the 14 people that live in the house said the fire was started by a four-year-old boy who was playing with matches underneath his sibling’s bed.
The following items were damaged: school uniforms, school bags, stationery, personal clothes (four children), wardrobes, beds, plugs are ruined and a broken window.
One of the bedroom’s windows got smashed when the room caught fire on Monday, May 8 at Hlalanikahle, Extension 4(Phase 4).
With the plugs being burnt this led to the house not having electricity. The family depends on social grants from South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the garage that is rented out to a shop owner.
“None of my elders that I am living with here are employed. My cousins and I matriculated recently and we do not have funds to assist us in taking our studies further,” said Busi.
Amongst things that were damaged were two wardrobes filled with clothes. This follows after two bedrooms of a house located at Hlalanikahle, Extension 4(Phase 4) caught fire on Monday, May 8.
The municipality at this stage is unable to fix the burnt electric cables and restore their electricity as they owe money to the municipality.
In the meantime, school uniforms have been donated to the four children who are Kroomdraai Primary School learners. However the Mthethwa family still need more donations.
The family is without electricity due to the plugs being burnt. Two bedrooms caught fire on Monday, May 8 at Hlalanikahle, Extension 4(Phase 4).
If you can assist the family in any way, contact Nomthandazo Mthethwa on 072 830 2829 or drop off the items at the WITBANK NEWS at Lana Street, opposite Highveld Eye Hospital.
Spokesperson for the municipality, Kingdom Mabuza said the family is more than welcome to apply for the indigent policy. This policy is aimed at assisting people that cannot afford to pay taxes due to their income or them being pensioners.
“The Mthethwa family must come forward and check if they qualify to be placed under that bracket. Their electricity debt will not be totally scrapped, it will be placed aside until an agreement is reached on how they can pay the debt little by little,” explained Mabuza.
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/93184/house-burns-ground-no-fire-truck-sight/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/85856/family-loses-everything-in-a-shack-fire/
