By: Zethu Gweva
It’s said that three times is a charm but it is not the case for Bulelwa Matyana whose home was burnt down for the third time in Duncan Village on Friday.
The mother of three noticed smoke coming from behind her shack, as she was about to rinse her blankets.
Matyana said that this is the third time her shack was burnt to ashes leaving her and her children homeless.
“I saw the smoke from one of the resident’s shacks, and could not contain myself. I started screaming for help, luckily people came to my aid,” she said.
The reason for the fire is suspected to be the way the electricity was connected in the shack where the fire started.
Matyana and her children currently stay with her neighbour. No one was injured and they managed to retrieve their belongings before the fire got to them.
“No one was injured and we were able to save our belongings,” she said.
One of the residents who wanted to remain anonymous said, they fear for their lives and children’s lives as it is not safe.
He said the fires sometimes erupt in the middle of the night, others that work night shifts are in fear of returning to a burnt down-home.
“Our children are at risk, we are at risk, I feel like we are neglected,” said Anonymous.
Buffalo City Metro News was unable to get a comment from Ward 1 Councillor Kuhle Ciliza.
According to the recent Stats SA Mortality and Cause of death report, exposure to smoke, fire and flames accounted for (6,8%) of deaths.