Cape Town - A family from Endlovini informal settlement in Khayelitsha are having to deal with the loss of three children, and at the same time are trying to piece their lives back together.
When 13-year-old Nako Mbema noticed his sister Qamisa Mbema, 8, and brother Akhanyile Magamle, 4, were nowhere to be found as residents fled frantically while their shack was being consumed by flames, he went back in the hope of rescuing them.
However, his heroic quest ended tragically as the children were trapped inside the burning structure.
Their three bodies were found in the debris. Another child, a relative, is fighting for life at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
The family of 16 – made up of 12 children and four adults, reside in one large structure.
“The children have their own room. At the time I was sleeping with the youngest of my grandchildren, whom I was able to save,” said their devastated grandmother, Nopasika Magamle.
“It’s all … confusing, everything happened very fast.
“What amazes me is that I had just fallen asleep, but when I was woken up, the fire was already everywhere.
“I just have a lot of questions with no one to answer them.
“There was load shedding and we used candles but we made sure they were put off so we don’t know what caused the fire.”
Aunt, Noluvuyo Dunga said they were still coming to terms with what happened.
“It is suspected that the fire might have started in one of the bedrooms.
“People woke each other up and children were being called by their names to ensure they were out. The one in hospital was heard crying for help and was taken out through the window.
“Nako’s body was found by the door. We suspect he went back inside to fetch Qamisa and Akhanyile who were still inside the bedroom.
“We saw all of the bodies when the fire was extinguished. We are beyond devastated, we don’t even know where to start rebuilding or what to rebuild with,” Dunga.
She said neighbours had also tried to assist in putting out the fire, but communal taps were a distance away.
The family has requested donations.
According to the City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, they were alerted just after midnight on Wednesday of a structure alight in Khayelitsha.
Carelse said crews from Lansdowne, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha and Strand responded to the scene, which completely destroyed the structure.
“Firefighters found the bodies of the two boys and a girl, who sustained fatal burn wounds, among the debris at around 1am. The fire, of which the cause is unknown, was extinguished at about 1.20am,” said Carelse.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said a six year-old-girl was taken to a medical facility for treatment after she sustained burn wounds to her body.
Lingelethu West police were investigating an inquest case.
Like many townships communities, shack fires are not new to Endlovini.
In June, siblings Lihle Pike, 12, and Sakhe, 14, were burnt beyond recognition when a shack fire broke out and they were trapped inside the structure.
To assist the family with food or clothing donations, Noluvuyo can be contacted on 078 195 8842 Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Cape Times