Community mourns family lost in fire  

Kwa-Thema – Community members from Kwa-Thema’s Marikana Ext 3 informal settlement gathered at the family home of a deceased mother to offer condolences and support following the loss of a family in a fire on May 26.
Church members joined the mourners, offering soulful hymns, prayers and words of comfort to the grieving relatives.
Among those mourning was Piet Phahla (62), the father of the deceased mother, who expressed grief and heartbreak. He said he last saw the entire family on Friday, just days before the tragedy.
“The fondest moment I have in my head right now is from Sunday morning when my one-year-old grandson called out my name from the corner,” he recalled.
“He was so excited to see me. He ran up to me and hugged me. I guess that was his way of saying goodbye.
“I am beyond hurt. Words cannot describe how I feel,” said Phahla.
He described the trauma of seeing the aftermath of the fire, a memory that continues to haunt him.
“It’s a memory that will stay with me forever. I will never forget this incident, and it will always hurt.”
Phahla’s thoughts turned to his young granddaughter, the sole survivor of the blaze.
“My heart goes out to my granddaughter, who survived. We visited her in the hospital. She is in the ICU. The doctors said she inhaled a lot of smoke and sustained burns on the side of her face.”
Despite her injuries, Phahla said he was comforted to hear that she was conscious and able to speak.
“They said she can talk, but she is in pain. Her face is swollen, and she is under close supervision while they try to manage the effects of the smoke she inhaled. I hope she survives. I pray she lives to carry the memory of all the children I have lost. She is my last and only hope,” he said.
Phahla said the most harrowing part of the ordeal was having to identify the bodies.
“The hardest thing I have ever had to do was identify their bodies in the condition they were in,” he said.
CoE Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza extended condolences to the victims’ loved ones.
“Our thoughts and prayers are also with the young survivor who is receiving medical attention; we wish them a full and speedy recovery.
“I commend our Emergency Services personnel from Station 29 and Disaster Management teams for their swift and dedicated response in extinguishing the blaze, initiating search and rescue operations and supporting the affected community during this tragic time.
“The city has deployed disaster management officers to provide immediate relief to the affected families, assess the extent of the damage and support the community in this difficult period,” said Xhakaza.
In the wake of this tragedy, Xhakaza urged all residents to observe these fire safety measures:
• Avoid leaving candles, paraffin stoves or heaters unattended;
• Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach;
• Ensure sufficient ventilation when using paraffin heaters and stoves;
• Regularly check electrical wiring and connections in your home to prevent electrical fires;
• Plan and practice escape routes with your family in case of a fire.
“The city’s DEMS is finalising its preliminary report, and we will continue to communicate with the public on an ongoing basis regarding developments.
“A full investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, and a detailed report will be made available upon its completion,” he added.