A neighbour helping with removal of damaged property. Photo by Tshepiso Monkoe
A FAMILY in Riverside, Fourways lost a home due to an unknown cause of fire in their house.
The fire broke out in a flat located in Block 18 while the owner was at work on Thursday, 30 January.
Another roommate was asleep, and a young girl was cooking in the kitchen.
The flat is under a massive bridge near the riverside, surrounded by other blocks of flats.
As one entered the building, thick smoke filled the air with people moving burnt belongings to the bin. The flat is situated at the corner of the top floor, and smoke was seen billowing from it.
The homeowner, Thuli Ncube, said she was informed of the fire after reaching work. “I left in the morning, and everything was fine; the call surprised me.
“According to my daughter, she only noticed smoke while she was cooking, but it was coming from the bedroom, and she didn’t know what caused it.
The house owner, Thuli Ncube, looking at her loss, Photo by Tshepiso Monkoe
“I’m very stressed and upset for the things that I worked hard for and lost. What’s worse is not having a place to stay, and the councillor said he’s still busy in a meeting on our WhatsApp group,” she said.
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The fire affected only one flat, where it originated and didn’t spread to others. Neighbours came in numbers to help clear out what was left after the fire.
Elsy Ncube (18) who was at home cooking when the fire started, said she doesn’t know how it began.
“It was in the morning, and I was making food for myself when I started smelling smoke from the bedroom,” she said.
A flat at Block 18 in Riverside caught fire. Photo by Tshepiso Monkoe
Speaking to the City of Joburg Emergency Services, Enoc Ngobeni, said that they responded immediately upon receiving the call.
“We provided food that can last at least a week. For accommodation, you need to ask the rightful person, who is the councillor. He is in a meeting and will visit the scene afterwards. But the place needs cleaning to assess the damage.”
When Daily Sun called the councillor, Ruffus Maswazi, he said he was still in a meeting and would call back.
On a WhatsApp group, a neighbour showed Daily Sun a message indicating the councillor was aware of the fire and was in a meeting in Braamfontein.
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