Four Imizamo Yethu families whose homes were destroyed in a fire are trying to rebuild their lives.

The fire, which was reported at 4pm on Saturday August 17, destroyed four shacks in Mandela Park, leaving seven people homeless, according to City Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse.

“Crews from Hout Bay, Constantia and Wynberg were on scene and by 5pm, firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze,” he said.

Fire victim Shadreck Malouwa, 30, said he was asleep at home that Saturday afternoon when the fire woke him.

“I’ve always had trouble with the electric wires on my electric stove at my home. Whenever I was cooking, I noticed they were always extremely hot so I was planning on replacing the wires.

“I was cooking some meat that day but saw there was too much sparks coming for the wires, which also started melting. So I switched the stove off and went to sleep, but I didn’t know that the wire kept melting.”

He recalls being unable to breathe when he woke to find smoke filling his home.

“I woke up suddenly as I was struggling to breathe. Then I saw so much smoke in the house. When I looked around, I saw the fire had spread to my curtains and close to the ground.

“The fire was spreading fast and already jumped to the next curtain. When I reached the door, most of the house was burning. I didn’t think of saving anything that time. But when I ran out the house that’s when the fire burnt my face and my hands. When I was outside, I alerted my neighbours to leave their homes immediately as the fire was spreading.”

He suffered third-degree burns to his face and hands.

His girlfriend was at work and his child was playing outside his home at the time of the fire.

“That time I didn’t notice the burns on my face except the ones on my hand as the skin was quite damaged. After the fire, I went to Hout Bay fire station, and they gave me some medication for the burns on my skin and face. However, the following morning, the burns felt worse so I went to Victoria Hospital where I stayed for two nights. I returned home after I was discharged on Tuesday August 20.”

Mr Malouwa’s family are staying with a friend in IY.

Aid group Thula Thula is collecting donations for the families.

“We have provided essential relief items including blankets, grocery parcels, toiletries, two-plate stoves and kettles,” said spokeswoman Nosi Siswana. “Our biggest expense is blankets. We ensure good quality blankets are bought. We still need assistance with that. Groceries and toiletries would be helpful too.“

No other injuries from the fire were reported, Mr Carelse said.

For more information about Thula Thula or to make a contribution, contact Nosi Siswana at 066 435 3443 or info@thula-thula.org.

The aftermath of the fire that displaced four families.

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