Could this be the work of a person possessed by evil spirits, an act of revenge, an act of a mystic power or the work of a lunatic bent on causing havoc in the community?

These are questions that are being asked by shocked community members at Hathukuta, Ha Mphego, following sporadic mystery fires that swept through the villages on Tuesday morning.

The fires, believed to have started minutes apart in the different villages, destroyed six huts.

None of the victims could explain what happened before the fires started but could only confirm waking up and finding their houses on fire. The incidents have left the community in a state of shock and confusion, not knowing what or who could be behind the fires and who will be next to be targeted.

After the fires, villagers are now counting their losses. Some of the victims lost everything, including food and clothing. Luckily for them, the Thulamela disaster management team responded swiftly and handed over food parcels to the victims.

Surprisingly enough, the attacker or attackers targeted mostly struggling families and only thatched huts were burnt. Ms Salphina Netshitomboni, who survived the attack by a whisker, said she had lost all her possessions as she kept most of her possessions in the hut that was completely gutted. She was weeping openly, saying she could not understand why a poor woman like herself could be attacked.

“I have nothing. I am very poor, as you can see, and I am just earning a living through piece jobs. We barely have enough for the family and the little we had is all gone now," she said.

She said the hut which caught fire was the main house where she slept, but on that fateful night she felt like not sleeping in the hut. “I just thank God and my sixth sense, which told me that something bad was going to happen to me. I did not feel comfortable in the hut and went and slept with my children,” she said.

She said around midnight she was awoken by her grandchild, who was attending a call of nature. “I was shocked to see there was light outside, and I went out to find the hut on fire. We tried calling for help, only to find that our neighbours were also struggling to put out a fire at one of their huts,” said Netshitomboni.

She said they had to watch helplessly as the fire consumed everything they had collected over the years. “We are left with nothing. It will be very hard for us to pick up the pieces and to put our lives back on track. At this moment, we will rely on the mercy of Good Samaritans to assist us.”

What makes her more confused is the fact that she does not know of any enemies or having had a fight with anybody. "I am a peaceful person and cannot find any reason why anybody could want to harm me,” she said.

Ms Masindi Makona of the same village also suffered severe losses. Her hut was completely gutted and she was not able to save anything either.

The local traditional leader, Chief Mmbangiseni Thukhutha, said the incident had shocked everyone in the village. “We have never experienced this type of catastrophe in our village. We are shocked and confused, and we do not even know who might be behind this.”

The spokesperson for the police in Thohoyandou, Maj Mashudu Malelo, said that they had opened arson cases.

A community meeting was held at Hathukhutha on Tuesday, where it was decided that contributions of R10 per household be made to assist the families. Suggestion boxes will also be placed at strategic points for information about the fires.