A Duncan Village family of 10 who lost almost all their belongings in a raging fire that gutted five shacks are now living in a tiny one-roomed wooden structure.
The Ngonwana family were gutted after the death of their friend in the July raging fire. The family told the Daily Dispatch yesterday they hoped to be provided with a house.
The fire started in one of the shacks on the property in Chris Hani Street on July 1, claiming a 33-year-old’s life.
Siphokazi Ngonwana, 24, said the fire started in the tenant’s shack and by the time everyone reacted to the screams, the shack had already been burned down to the ground.
“It was heartbreaking to watch. We were woken up by neighbours’ screams just before 4am.
“I heard the neighbours shouting ‘Fire! Fire!’ and when we came outside the shack had already burned down to the ground,” she said.
The surrounding community came together and gave the family who survived, but only had their clothes on their backs, wooden boards to cover up the affected parts.
The entire rear side of the house was burned to a crisp, with only a few wooden panels left.
Ngonwana said they called the fire department, which managed to find the house with the help of a few neighbours.
“Our neighbours really helped us out a lot, but we are now without electricity because our electricity box was also burned,” she said.
Her older brother, Nkosiphendule Ngonwana, 29, who moved into a shack on the adjoining property with his girlfriend and seven-year-old daughter, said they were lucky to escape the blaze.
“It was so bad. We woke up and there were flames all over and then we started putting it out until the fire brigade came,” he said.
Buffalo City Metro spokeswoman Bathandwa Diamond said the municipality had attended to the situation.
“The city’s disaster management unit attended to the matter in July and gave the families relief, in the form of blankets and food parcels.
“We also forwarded the information of the victims to relevant departments.
“With regards to the matter of temporary shelter, it is difficult in the area because of the density of the shacks.
“In this case only two temporary structures would fit in the space, whereas 10 families lost their shacks,” she said.
Diamond was unable to say whether BCM was going to assist in building the temporary structures or not. — oreillya@tisoblackstar.co.za
DV family appeals for help
The Ngonwana family were gutted after the death of their friend in the July raging fire. The family told the Daily Dispatch yesterday they hoped to be provided with a house.
The fire started in one of the shacks on the property in Chris Hani Street on July 1, claiming a 33-year-old’s life.
Siphokazi Ngonwana, 24, said the fire started in the tenant’s shack and by the time everyone reacted to the screams, the shack had already been burned down to the ground.
“It was heartbreaking to watch. We were woken up by neighbours’ screams just before 4am.
“I heard the neighbours shouting ‘Fire! Fire!’ and when we came outside the shack had already burned down to the ground,” she said.
The surrounding community came together and gave the family who survived, but only had their clothes on their backs, wooden boards to cover up the affected parts.
The entire rear side of the house was burned to a crisp, with only a few wooden panels left.
Ngonwana said they called the fire department, which managed to find the house with the help of a few neighbours.
“Our neighbours really helped us out a lot, but we are now without electricity because our electricity box was also burned,” she said.
Her older brother, Nkosiphendule Ngonwana, 29, who moved into a shack on the adjoining property with his girlfriend and seven-year-old daughter, said they were lucky to escape the blaze.
“It was so bad. We woke up and there were flames all over and then we started putting it out until the fire brigade came,” he said.
Buffalo City Metro spokeswoman Bathandwa Diamond said the municipality had attended to the situation.
“The city’s disaster management unit attended to the matter in July and gave the families relief, in the form of blankets and food parcels.
“We also forwarded the information of the victims to relevant departments.
“With regards to the matter of temporary shelter, it is difficult in the area because of the density of the shacks.
“In this case only two temporary structures would fit in the space, whereas 10 families lost their shacks,” she said.
Diamond was unable to say whether BCM was going to assist in building the temporary structures or not. — oreillya@tisoblackstar.co.za
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