Family of 10 are living in rondavel
Fire destroys home, jobless father left desperate
t has been a long wait for help for a Lady Frere family from Kugqebenya, who lost their home after it was destroyed by a fire.
Kolekile Matiwane, 56, said his family of 10 had been living in a rondavel for a month, as promises for help from the municipality had not materialised.
Matiwane said their house burnt down on June 3 after his youngest child accidentally set it alight, destroying almost everything the family owned.
Clothes, furniture, documents ... all gone. The “children have lost their school uniforms and we only have this structure left to our name,” he said.
A distraught Matiwane said officials from Chris Hani Disaster Management had come to assess the family s situation, but they had not heard
’ anything further from them since.
There were at least people from the
“department of social development who gave us some necessities.
They were supposed to come on Monday, but “that was postponed. I am frustrated because I do not know where we are supposed to turn for help. If I know they cannot help, I will look
“somewhere else, but where will I go?
I am unemployed and do not know where to “start,” said Matiwane.
Emalahleni Ward 6 councillor Nqabeni James
Isaid disaster management officials were going to do a follow-up visit to the family yesterday. We were supposed to go there on Monday, “but it was moved to Thursday. Disaster management will be accompanied “by human settlements, who will look into assisting the family with shelter,” he said.