Appeal to help IY fire victims

The victims of a fire that swept through Imizamo Yethu last week are appealing for help.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at about 1am on Wednesday April 3, according to City Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse.

“Crews from various fire stations attended to the incident. By 4am, the fire was extinguished,” he said, adding that it destroyed 10 shacks, partially damaged two houses and left 50 people displaced.

“One person sustained second-degree burn wounds. However, he refused treatment and was transported privately to a hospital,“ Mr Carelse said.

The cause of the fire was unknown, he said.

Sinazo Ngunqu said she, her mother and six other relatives were now living in single room after a fire ravaged the shacks they were staying in.

“We still don’t know what caused the fire because we were sleeping when the fire started. We think it could be a candle that was knocked over.”

Her brother had sustained light burns in the fire but was otherwise fine, she said, adding that the family had received a stove, a kettle, some blankets and food from aid organisation Thula Thula, but they needed further assistance to get back on their feet.

“The day after, some people helped us by building a makeshift room for us, but we still need assistance with roof coverage as it’s raining, which makes everything wet.

“I also have a sister in matric, and her school books and uniform were burnt. We also don’t have a bed.”

Ahlume Toro said the fire had caused extensive damage in the two-bedroom home he shares with his wife and two children, aged 28 and 4.

“I don't know what caused the fire because when I woke up, it was already burning. We lost all our furniture and clothes. We couldn't save anything.”

The family are living in the charred ruins of their home as they try to rebuild.

“We have received blankets, a two-burner stove, a kettle and some groceries and toiletries. But I need female clothes and clothes for a 4-year-old boy as well as shoes for a size 8 and size 6,“ Mr Toro said.

Thula Thula volunteer Nosi Siswana said they had given two-plate stoves, kettles, groceries, toiletries, clothes and blankets to the fire victims, but they needed donations of building materials, beds, stationery and school uniforms.

Contact Nosi Siswana at 066 435 3443 or info@thula-thula.org if you can help.