After the burning down of a shopping complex in Thohoyandou, scores of workers from businesses in the burnt-out complex stood helplessly unsure of their future.

On Monday last week, those who did not know what had happened nearly fainted when they arrived to find their shops in ruins.

At the Pie City factory shop, which was totally gutted by the fire, 20 confused staff members stood around and were visibly worried about what was to become of them as their shop was no more. Their managers addressed them and they were told that they would not lose their jobs as they were also insured.

Factory manager  Lawrence Makhado said the business was insured but production and supply would be affected because of the fire. "No one is going to lose their job. We are still in negotiations with another supplier, so that our outlets will be kept running while we are fixing the factory shop," he said.

The only people who suffered the wrath of the aftermath of the fire were casual workers who were told that their employment stopped right there.

"When I heard that our shop had been gutted by fire, I could not sleep anymore as I was thinking of what would happen because we are not registered. I could sense that something wrong was going to happen. I felt like a piece of me has been taken away from me. What happened here is not a surprise as I sensed it, " said Kholofelo Khathamo, one of the casual workers. The 29-year-old woman from Tsianda said she was just worried because she had financial commitments and people to care for - something she will not be able to do as she does not have a job anymore.

Adeleide Marubini (40), a pie maker at the factory, was one of the happiest people after news that they still had their jobs was relayed to them. "I thought that we would be told that our jobs were over because of the fire. I just wish they repair everything fast, so that we could come back to work," she said.