At a time when people have forgotten about nasty incidents of raining stones and mystery fires, a family is having sleepless nights after mysterious fires consumed their belongings and left them with little to show after labouring for many years.

Mysterious fires that had so far almost affected the whole house are tormenting the Sikhwivhilu family of Maniini in Thohoyandou in Limpopo. The fire has left the family baffled, as its source could not be ascertained. Damage amounting to more than R100 000 has already been caused by Tuesday this week.

A visibly confused and exhausted Margareth Sikhwivhilu (51), the mother of Limpopo’s well-known cultural activist Mashudu Nemaranzhe of Nyanenge fame, said she was preparing to go to work on Thursday morning last week when one of her children shouted that there was fire in their room. “I had to abandon my bath and rushed out of my room and helped the children extinguish the fire. We thought that everything was back to normal and I continued to prepare for work,” said Sikhwivhilu.

Curtains of the room were burnt in the first incident. She said she left after instructing her children to observe the house as schools were still closed. She had hardly reached her work place when she received a call informing her that her room was on fire. “I rushed back home and found my room in flames. Neighbours came and helped douse the fire,” said Sikhwivhilu. Fire fighters arrived at the scene but the fire had already been doused. The family lost clothing and curtains in this incident.

Sikhwivhilu had already alerted her seniors at work about her ordeal and was allowed to stay at home to observe whether further outbreaks of the mystery fires occurred. While she was resting on her sofa, trying to figure out what could be turning her life upside down, she was overcome by smoke. On inspecting where the fire had emanated from, she was surprised to see another of her rooms on fire.

The fire was also extinguished with the help of the neighbours, who were also keeping a watch over the house. Bedding, books and blankets were destroyed.

The family thought they were done with what they described as satanic fires, but the fires continued over the weekend and on Monday and Tuesday, when the roofing of the house was also damaged and the last of their possessions were burnt down.

“I do not know why this happening. I do not know who is behind this and if I owe somebody something, why can’t he just come and tell me? I have had enough of these fires and our lives as a family have been turned upside down,” said Sikhwivhilu. She said religious leaders from different churches had visited her but there has not been any change, as the fire continues to wreak havoc in the family. “We have sleepless nights here. How can one sleep when one does not know when the next fire will break out? Life is really bad here,” she said. She said she knows that everything happening around her is the work of the devil and the devil cannot win against God.

“I am a Christian and I know that we will be persecuted on our way to heaven. I feel this is one of those situations where one’s faith is being tested. I am not bowing to Satan; I just pray that this passes and for the glory of God to be seen,” she said.

Sikhwivhilu is appealing to all peace-loving South Africans pray for her and her family.

She said the family was consoled and their spirits were raised when the mayor of Thulamela, Khosi Vho Thivhulawi Makumbane, visited them. “This goes to show that we are not alone in our time of need. If we see our leaders visiting us, we have hope and we can see that they love us. We thank our government for caring for the people and especially those who are in need,” she said.

She also thanked the municipality’s disaster management section for the assistance. This was after Mirror made enquiries to the disaster management head, Mr Chavalala, on Monday, who said he did not know of the incident. He promised to investigate the following day. True to his word, he visited the family the following day and the family was given blankets and some groceries to keep them going.

Ms Mashudu Nemaranzhe of Nyanenge, the old woman’s eldest daughter, said they have not had peace for the last week. “We are confused and we really need help. We have lost everything that we once owned and we have tried everything so far to stop the fire. Please help us out of this dilemma,” she pleaded.

Mysterious incidents of raining stones and fires are not new in the Vhembe area. In 2007, the Phidza family at Lwamondo outside Thohoyandou was baffled by kitchen utensils flying like missiles from the house and landing on the lawn outside. Mysterious fires also damaged wardrobes and goods worth thousands of rands during the incidents. Incidents were also reported at Nzhelele, Shayandima and Phaphazela in the Malamulele area.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairperson of the Malamulele Traditional Healers Association, Dr General MD Shirinda, said the spirits of dead people could bring bad luck to families. He said the spirits of people who are killed unnaturally could come back to haunt those that are living as a form of punishment. He said families in such predicaments should seek help from traditional healers.

The family is making an appeal to the nation to help them in their time of need. Those wishing to help can do so by contacting the family at 076 432 0394 or 072 058 6900.