A house belonging to a senior citizen was severely damaged by fire last Sunday.

The community of Tshikota is very shocked, following the incident where granny Agnes Green´s house burnt down. Mirror visited the house on Tuesday this week, only to learn that the fire had caused severe damage and that the owner was still receiving treatment in the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital.

According to a family member, Mrs Methah Sadiki, the incident happened around 19:00. Sadiki indicated that Ms Green was alone in the house. "I was alerted by my daughter that the granny´s house was burning. I rushed to the house and, on my arrival, the neighbours told me that they had already called the fire brigade unit of the Makhado Municipality. It responded very quickly, but the fire had unfortunately already caused severe damage," she said.

While Mirror was still at the house, granny Green arrived back from hospital, where she had been hospitalised for two days for smoke inhalation. Green acknowledged that the fire was caused by a candle which she had lit after she had switched off the electricity. "I lit the candle to save electricity," she said. She added that she was not aware when the fire started. Green further revealed that her identity document, cell phone, money, clothes and furniture were destroyed in the fire.

The damage is estimated to be approximately R150 000. According to Mr Richard Chauke, a community development officer in the area, the incident came to his attention and he is busy making arrangements to provide shelter for the old woman. He indicated he had already met with the ward councillor, Cllr Nchauba, and they had agreed to issue an empty RDP house on a temporary basis to her. "We will be devising means to provide permanent shelter for her with the aid of the municipality," emphasized Chauke.

Anybody who wants to assist the granny can phone Ms Elizabeth Makatu at 082 932 3607.