DONATIONS

The family is in dire need of clothes, blankets, food, and essential valuables. If anyone would like to donate, they can contact Tsholofelo Mokone on 074 552 1970.

a mother figure to not only myself and my siblings, but several people in the community. She was loved by everyone,” says Tsholofelo.

“Hundreds of people have expressed their interest in coming for the funeral, but we have had difficulty deciding who would be able to come.”

As she battled to hold back her tears, Tsholofelo spoke of her close relationship with her grandmother.

“She’s the one I would talk to most of the time, the one who would guide me and show me love. Yes, my mother is still alive and I love her, but my grandmother was the first person I turned to if anything happened in my life.”

She also says her little sister was like her best friend.

“My heart is shattered. Nothing will ever fill the void of losing a sibling. The past few days have been draining. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. The true reality of what has happened still hasn’t fully sunk in.

“I keep thinking of my sister, her smile and that special laugh she had, and it shatters my heart.”

“Spiritually I’m still okay. When I need strength to get through the day, I pray. That’s one thing that my granny taught me.”

On the close relationship that her granny and little sister had, she says:

“My little sister loved my grandmother very much. They had a very close relationship.

“When I pray and read the word of God, I understand that if one of them were still alive they wouldn’t be okay, they needed each other. They were always together.

“I’m grateful that my granny is now with my little sister in heaven, so she can always look after her and be by her side.”

Tsholofelo adds that her little sister had ambitions of becoming a doctor.

“She always told us she would work super hard so that one day she could become a doctor and look after everyone in our family.

“Aside from that, she was the best sister in the world. A little girl, who was always smiling and always laughing. Knowing that smile is gone forever, and we will never see it again, pains me.”

While the house burnt down completely, the back house at the family’s plot remains untouched.

“Right now, we have the back room area that we are utilising, as the inside of the house still smells of smoke. There are ten of us and only two rooms, but we are grateful for what we have.

“We want to thank the community that has been donating food and money. Even the government has donated some blankets and food, and we are very thankful to them. We thank these people, as they’ve made this time for us a little easier.”

Meanwhile Gauteng Emergency Services say they have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Tshireletso and her granny are expected be laid to rest this morning in Soweto.