Pensioner asks for help after five-room house burns down

Ms Sofia Hlungwani (62), a pensioner from Magulule village in Elim, is calling for help from community members after her five-room house burnt down on Friday, 29 July, leaving the family of seven destitute.

Hlungwani recalls seeing smoke coming from the roof of her house while sitting outside with one of her grandchildren at around 10:00 in the morning. She ran inside and rescued her grandson, who was still inside the house. Luckily, he sustained no injuries, but she still cannot figure out how the fire started.

“After I got my grandson from the house, I grabbed a bucket of water in an attempt to put out the fire. I tried to call neighbours to assist, but couldn’t see anyone nearby. I watched everything burn. It was like having a nightmare,” Hlungwani said.

She said that the incident had left her feeling depressed and powerless as she solely relied on her social grant to provide for her and her four grandchildren, who are orphans. “We would appreciate any kind of donation in the form of food, clothes - especially school uniforms for the children - and building material,” she pleaded.

Mr Ronny Baloyi, Ward 2 councillor, said he arrived while the house was burning and phoned the Vhembe Fire Brigade, but the fire had already destroyed everything by the time they got there. “What happened is painful, but we will try to provide them with food until we can find help from donors,” he said.

News in brief - Date: 14 August 2022

Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area.

Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

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