A cloud of sadness still hangs around Thema village at Ha-Mashamba, following the mysterious incident during which a pensioner, Vakisa Sambo (65), died when her house burnt down about two weeks ago.

Mr Sambo was apparently busy cooking when the thatched roof fell down and caught fire. He was overpowered by the flames. When the fire was spotted, community members called the Louis Trichardt Fire Brigade, who responded very quickly, but the fire had unfortunately already caused severe damage.

“When the fire started, we were seated at home. We heard somebody screaming for help and when we went to investigate, we found that the house was burning,” said the younger sister of the deceased, Ms Mphephu Kubayi. She said that her sister was trapped inside the burning house. “By then the fire was very fierce ... we failed to rescue her,” Kubayi said.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

According to Cllr Sarah Luduvhungu, she is busy engaging the community members to see if they can assist the family with whatever they have. “I have requested community members to donate useful material and food to the affected family,” she said.

Const Cynthia Ndou of the Waterval police confirmed the incident. She said it occurred at about 19:00. “We were called by members of the community, and when we arrived at the scene, the house was burning. The deceased burnt to death inside the house,” said Ndou.