Mysterious fire leaves families homeless

Twenty-one members of the Ndlovu and Mthombeni families, who were living next to each other, are now homeless after the strange fire ravaged their five mud huts, one by one.

Ndlovu, who has thirteen members in her family, is the grandmother of Mthombeni. Nthombeni, who is unemployed, has six members in his family. The problem started on August 21, at about 07:30, when a fire started on the roof of one of the two huts of the Mthombeni family. Neighbours, who alerted the family, saw the fire. According to a family member, Louraine Mthombeni (29), no one started the fire. They also failed to save any of the items in the hut. While the family was still struggling to recover from their shock, another fire destroyed the second one in the same family, in the same way. On September 5, at about 08:00, a similar fire destroyed the first hut of the Ndlovu family. The other two huts were destroyed on September 8 and 9, at 10:00 and 15:00.

Both families are now sharing a small, two-roomed zinc house, from each family, as it is the only accommodation they have. Mthombeni, who is expecting her firth child, said they did not know the cause of the fire. People told them it was a miracle fire, she said. She said it was difficult for the adults to sleep, as they suspect that another fire might start in the remaining zinc houses while they are asleep.

"We haven't slept since then. Only the small children are sleeping. We do not even know what is going to happen in the zinc houses. The worst thing is that no one is employed. We only rely on a pension grant from Nyanisi (Mthombeni)," she said. Mtombeni also appealed to the community to help in whatever way possible, as they had lost everything they had, including groceries and clothes. Anyone who wants to help can phone Maria Mthombeni at 072 498 5314.

News - Date: 19 September 2003

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