Six family members perish in deadly fire
Former councillor, reverend and four children die in blaze in early hours of morning
A Mqanduli township is reeling in shock after six family members burnt to death inside their home on Friday morning.
Residents and those who responded to the distress call said the fire spread speedily inside the family’s house at about 1am in Makhenkesi township near Mqanduli.
They tried in vain to put out the fire, one of the people at the scene told the Dispatch. Two children aged 15 and nine, who were sleeping in a separate house, were taken in by relatives.
Nondyebo Mzamo said residents used hosepipes, while others tried to break the burglar bars in a bid to save the family.
The family was identified as community police forum member and former King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipality councillor Mthuthuzeli Mabhongo, his wife, Rev Phathiswa Mabhongo, their three children and a grandchild.
The wife was employed by the OR Tambo district municipality in the water and sanitation department.
“I was called around 1.30am by people in the township,” Mzamo said.
“When I arrived, there were other residents who were doing their best to fight the fire.
“We called the KSD fire department. Some had called the police and Eskom.
“The residents did their best trying to break the burglar bars on the windows and doors but in vain.
“The firefighters [from Mthatha] arrived too late.”
“We are asking ourselves what happened. We wanted to help them so much. One of the children was near the door.
“Mabhongo [Mthuthuzeli] was always ready to assist the community.”
Zuko Mzokwana said two skid units and a firefighter bus were dispatched to the scene.
“The bodies were badly burnt. I commend the residents for trying to save the family. The situation was bad,” he said.
Reverend Archdeacon Celani Manyoba of St Andrew’s Bokleni Anglican church in Ngcobo, who lives in Mqanduli, described Phathiswa as a humble and good person who loved people.
He said they were still coming to terms with the loss.
“I knew him [Mthuthuzeli] very well,”
Manyoba said.
“He and his family did not deserve to die like this. People are traumatised. What happened here is tragic. We need prayers.
“Their bodies were taken by the forensic team before 8am. The whole house is dark [from smoke].
“We [he and the reverend) prayed together. I am devastated,” he said.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Sibongile Soci said: “An inquest docket has been registered for investigation by Mqanduli SAPS. All the relevant stakeholders were summoned to the scene.”
KSD mayor Nyaniso Nelani, speaking from the scene, said no-one knew what had caused the fire.
“Eskom was called to the scene and found the electricity was still working,” Nelani said.
“We will meet the family and see where we can help. Our biggest worry is the remaining children. What makes this more sad is that the family was trying to protect themselves with the burglar bars.
“As the municipality we need to prepare ourselves for any eventuality to make sure this never happens again.
“Plans are in the pipeline to have a satellite fire station in Mqanduli. That is in our programme of small town revitalisation.
“We were prompt to respond to the scene but that will make us even more prompt.”
OR Tambo municipality spokesperson Zimkhita Macingwane expressed sadness.
“The whole OR Tambo [district] is shocked by the death of our own employee and his family,” she said.
“Our disaster management unit will visit the home to find out what led to the fire. The institution will give support to the family.”