Some 65 families lost everything in a fire in a Marlboro squatter camp on the edge of Alexandra township on Wednesday 28th February.
(nearest corner 1st and 3rd, close to Pretoria Main Road).
The cause of the fire was not known and as it occurred in the middle of the day when most people were alert and awake, there were no major injuries.
On March 1st 2007 Children of Fire delivered disaster recovery packs including such items as second hand clothes, blankets, soap powder, toothbrushes, toothpaste, safety candle holders with candles, Danish butter cookies, basic foodstuffs including at least one 5kg bag of Iwisa mielie meal for each family, soup, pilchards, tea, Dove soap, Dawn moisturising lotion, hats, writing materials, magazines and lots of toys.
Some heads of household included: Victor Maake, Habas Mallane, Grace Sebela, Dynah Matjila, Germinah Rapetso, Dorcus Molopo, Evah Maake, Zarazara Ndlovu, Erick Sebela, Huring Ephraim, Bessie Mayokotela, Maphela Mothopi, Noita Baloyi, Reedban Mokari, Nkhesani Masisinyani, Amos Xivambu, Lucas Hlungwani, Isaac Langa, Settlers Chauke, Edward Hlongwane, Edward Mbezi, Khesani Shivabu, Daniel Ringani, Mike Sebona, Albert Gobola, White Maluleke, Edwin Sathekge.
The second trip assisted families headed by: Solly Rakwale, Thomas Ndlovu, Hangalakani Letswalo, Precious Mangane, David Baloyi, Maczimel Baloyi, Tue-king Langa, Happy Mkansi, Falizwe Mnginisi, Golden Letswala, Trix Malame, Ephraim Makhubela, Pamuel Chauke, Kenneth Chauke, Magic Chauke, Solly Shitzinga, Bally Letswalo, Marika Moseisi, Emily Lekoata, Joseph Langa, Thomas Baloyi, Louis Shivambu, Bassa Machukucla, Traccia Mosesi, Emanuel Mabasa, Samson Baloyi, Sam Nghonyama, Betty Ramashala, Eric Chuma, Richard Khosa, Lucky Maluleke and Daniel Hlongwane.
Many babies on backs and young children were affected - but the toys took their minds of their troubles for a while.
Thanks to UMashesha volunteers Felix Neumann, James Phosa, Tomoko Harada and Michelle Daniels. Thanks to Edward Upton for the loan of his bakkie. And thanks to many individual donors as well as Dis Chem, listeners to Jacaranda FM and Premier Foods.
The largely Shangaan, Venda and Pedi community were supplied with building poles by Disaster Management and spent Thursday hammering out the buckled corrugated iron, rebuilding their homes. Rebuilding their lives will take longer, especially trying to replace vital documentation like school matriculation certificates, now just ashes underfoot.
Children of Fire would like donations of non-perishable foods, saucepans, Parasafe stoves and tin openers, to assist these fire survivors and others in future.
In 2003 Children of Fire went to the aid of thousands of families in
Greater Johannesburg who lost their homes due to fire. While the plight of
those left destitute made the headlines for a few days, the problems went on
for months. Our volunteers stepped in with clothes, food, pots, bed linen
and hands on help, especially to the injured and to the bereaved. The
biggest fires were in July, August, December 2003 and January 2004 but the
biggest risk periods remain the coldest nights.
Just in the first week of May 2004 there were two small fires, one in
Zevenfontein squatter camp and one in Alexandra, that didn't get mentioned
in the media - but again Children of Fire was there to help.
One of our firefighting water tanks was used to extinguish the Setswetla,
Alex, fire after it had razed four shacks - and saved a considerable part of
Alexandra which had been entirely without water for 24 hours.
Then in early June, 31 families lost everything in Alexandra in one fire. We
helped them all and we assisted with other small fires in the township too.
Again in mid July 2004 some 40 families lost all their possessions at George Goch settlement in Denver, Greater Johannesburg. Our volunteers were on the scene with clothing for all the families affected.
Three times in August 2004 so far there have been further fires in
Alexandra. One affected about 27 families (at least 100 people) in 8th Avenue near Vasco da
Gama on August 13th, after a man left a stove on when he allegedly went to
the shebeen. It is also suggested that due to the slow rate of
electrification of the township, that those shacks were using illegal
electricity that was highly likely to cause a fire.
The residents of 8th Avenue were the fortunate recipients of Children of
Fire's first Disaster Recovery Bags. These tough red cotton bags were made
by a women's co-operative, and the cost borne by staff from the British High
Commission in Pretoria. The tins of corned beef and the saucepans were
funded by the Cradle Project - an employee volunteer project within
Investec; the sugar cane gel stoves were funded by Pick n Pay; Varsa Trusts
money went towards safety candle holders and First Aid supplies; AMB
Advisory Services contributed towards the wash things; individual donors
including Trevor Murugasen; Roshan & Judy Parbhoo, Kuben Rayan; Andy Naidoo helped
with crockery, cutlery and non perishable food.
When all hope is lost, it lifts people's spirits a lot to be able to cook
their own food, light their temporary shelter, wash their faces and clothes,
and to be able to give their children books and pens to take to school the
next day.
The bags also included a couple of outfits of second hand clothes and at
least one pair of shoes. Where young babies are noticed - or even heavily
pregnant mothers, more effort is made to give those families extra support.
Another fire hit at least 46 families between 12th and 13th
Avenues on Wednesday August 18th, 2004, just when the children had arrived
home from school. Again we have helped the people with clothes and household
supplies.
Then on August 24th 2004 there was a fire on 16th Avenue. At least 200
people are affected. We took bread, vegetables and clothes to them.
On Saturday 4th September there was another fire in a small house in 17th
Avenue, Alexandra, affecting seven families. It is believed that someone
left the stove on by mistake. Our volunteers were on the scene before the
fire brigade and commented, again, that Alexandra Fire Brigade's
firefighters are not sufficiently equipped to help and that they have to
wait for Sandton Fire Brigade to arrive - typically 20 minutes later. A huge
amount of damage is done in 20 minutes. One man lost his life and the other
people lost all their possessions.
On Friday 10th September there was a fire in Third Street, Marlboro, just on
the edge of Alexandra. Our UMashesha volunteers were on the scene within ten
minutes of it starting and called the emergency services - who only reached
the scene around midnight. At least one infant died in the squatter camp
sited within a disused factory. Male residents were slow to react as many
were drinking in a shebeen nearby. Clothes are needed for about 200 people.
Children of Fire is also assisting the 11 households whose homes were
illegally demolished by Metro Police on September 8th in Crosby. Their
building materials were stolen. One child aged five, who lost her home has
been taken in by the charity. A charity representative was assaulted by a
council employee on the scene, as she tried to photograph the devastation.
We anticipate more fires are just around the corner. In the other instance,
we hope the behaviour of Metro Police will not be repeated.
Nondiya Mtolo (45) and her daughter Tryphina (5) after Metrol Police
illegally destroyed their home on September 8th 2004. Children of Fire took
Tryphina in, until she had shelter again.
Please plan now for the inevitable tragedy of squatter camp life in South Africa.
Ask your staff, friends, relatives, colleagues, to collect packages of clean
clothes including underwear, so that we can ensure that everyone affected by
fire has at least one change of clothes when they have nothing else left at
all.
From the youngest to the oldest, thin and fat, we help everyone that we can.
The easiest way to do this would be e.g. to put trousers, socks, underpants,
Tshirt, jersey, in a bag and label it "thin short man" or "tall large woman"
or "toddler girl" or "teenage boy" as appropriate. It saves a lot of time on
sorting.
Non perishable food, saucepans, tin openers, wash things, buckets, school
uniforms, exercise books, text books, reading books and other school
stationery and toys are also welcome. School shoes are always needed.
Financial donations would be used for sugar cane gel stoves (R50) and safety
candle holders (R20) or to purchase bread and other staples. We also
recommend a "hot bag" (R65) as a safer way to prepare food in any community
as it more than halves the cooking time (saving fuel), and by putting a
covered saucepan inside the foil and cloth bag, there is less risk of fire
and injury from open flame stoves.
The bags have been demonstrated to our volunteers and as with burnshields,
stoves and candelholders, it would be best to factor in R200 per fire for
someone to demonstrate the cooking of a simple meal with the bag as well as
showing exactly how to use the other safety devices.
Sometimes slightly out of date food is available in an emergency through the
Robin Good organisation, but then we need help with transport to collect it
from the Randburg area. We hope that hotels and food shops will become more
proactive with their assistance.
Beyond Gauteng we do not assist with bulk supplies of food and clothes, due
to the lack of trained volunteers. Sometimes volunteers are also given
clothes etc in recognition of their assistance.
However we do carry out fire prevention and first aid training and outreach
across the country and assist badly burned children throughout the land.
Katlego Malatji, age 13, died on Christmas Day.
He was the third victim of the fire at Joe Slovo squatter camp that started around 3am on December 22nd. He survived 72 hours after initial injury.
Children of Fire calls on the National Department of Health and the Gauteng Province to review the policy regarding child burn victims.
The key problems are: There are not enough ambulances.
(The media should have access to the Emergency Services SMS system that regularly
reports there are no ambulances or fire engines for vast geographical areas,
or that key staff such as drivers, are unavailable. In that way there could
be updates on radio and people would know that a possible solution lay only
in their own hands).
There are not enough ambulance staff.
There should be a full-body-size burn shield on every ambulance and on every
fire engine. A burn shield is a South African invention. It is a cooling antiseptic
dressing, available from hand size to blanket size. It is most important to
cool a burn straight away, in as sterile conditions as possible. It is expensive
but not in relation to all the other costs involved.
All badly-burned children should be taken immediately to Chris Hani Baragwaneth
Hospital OR the other main hospitals e.g. Johannesburg General, Helen Joseph,
Edenvale, Coronation, Leratong, should be equipped with proper burns treatment
facilities. (Leratong has a burns unit but it is not sufficiently well equipped).The
age limit whereby Baragwanath (Soweto) and the Red Cross Hospital (in Cape Town)
among others, state that at 13 years old a child is now an adult, should end.
On the statute books, one remains a minor until the age of 18 or 21, depending
upon which law is being applied. Internationally it is generally accepted that
one remains a child until one's 18th birthday. Even South Africa's Department
of Education will (theoretically) allow you schooling until the age of 15 before
it deems it is too late to try. (policy document relating to age and grade of
pupils starting school).
The percentage of the body burned should not ever be a reason for turning a
child away - or even for refusing admission to an adult - from the best possible
medical facility that they can reasonably be taken to. It is not for any hospital
administrator to play God and take the decision to turn a child away; to send
them to a certain death.
Public-private partnerships should be put in place so that in Greater Johannesburg
ambulance crew can divert to Milpark Hospital, Parklane Clinic, Brenthurst Clinic,
Sunninghill Hospital, etc if they have appropriate facilities. It costs approximately
R1000 a night to stay in a private hospital and about R700 a night to stay in
a state hospital. But that is a fraction of the overall cost involved of nurses,
doctors, surgeons, theatre time, theatre consumables. Most medication in a private
hospital costs three times as much as that in a state hospital. The state should
reimburse the private hospitals speedily for medicines and medical consumables
used and it should sort out the disparity in costing.
The ambulance transporting Katlego was told to take him to Helen Joseph Hospital.
The reasoning was based on his age 13 ("an adult") and that an adult
with more than 60 per cent burns is refused admission to Baragwanath.Helen Joseph
Hospital has no burns unit.He was taken to the Intensive Care Unit. That unit
has one toilet for staff and none for patients. It has no bath., just washhand
basins. It is not even easy to create a sterile truly-isolated environment.
When the child arrived, he was in incredible pain. He was sedated with morphine
and domicum. He was intubated so he was not able to talk. He was assisted to
sleep all the time, because the pain of burns is so unbearable. The next day
he "arrested" but he was brought back to life. His body was covered
in Flamazine and Children of Fire offered to pay for any dressings that the
charity is aware various state hospitals are not allowed to provide, on grounds
of cost. There was no special bath for debridement, to remove dead tissue and
other material that would prevent healing. It was planned to take him to theatre
to carry out the procedure but he was too unstable. The staff at Helen Joseph
did everything they possibly could do, under impossible circumstances.
Many decisions are taken by administrators with no knowledge of the repercussions.
The most common reason for death after burns is infection. The skin damage for
lesser burns can be minimised by using see-through dressings that allow the
wound to heal underneath without disturbing the delicate skin structure as it
heals. Where medical staff are forced to use gauze that tears away the new skin
each time it is removed, they are increasing the risk of infection and it is
a totally false economy. Even using paraffin-impregnated gauze only works in
certain situations as it dries out very quickly in the South African climate.
Some paramedics and nurses are not yet aware of technical innovations that improve
healing or that one now tries to keep wounds moist. But the biggest problems
are with accountants who do not understand that using a R100 dressing versus
a R5 dressing may save R10000 in theatre costs - and may also save a life.
For burns survivors, there is often unnecessary disfigurement, unnecessary
pain and avoidable further surgery because of lack of explanation to the families
about what has to be done in the long term and because of the shortage of occupational
therapists who can prevent useful limbs and digits from contracting into useless
claws and limbs bent rigid at 90 degrees. The decision by surgeons to use a
mesh-like skin graft is taken to use a little skin to fix a large area. It should
be avoided on areas of the body like hands and forearms that are going to be
visible for the rest of the burn survivor's life and make the skin look like
that of a crocodile or a fish. The surgeon would not take such a disfiguring
decision for his or her own child.
Katlego Malatji was the nephew of Joshua Malatji, owner of the Spaza shop where
the fire began. In the centre of the inferno, a couple lay sleeping. Wally Maduna,
in his early 50s and Sinah van Schalkwyk aged 52. They had tried to escape the
blaze, as their bodies were not found on the remains of the bed, but it seems
that they were overcome by the smoke.
Two days after the fire, Children of Fire called Superintendent Mbanyele at
Brixton SAPS to remove Sinah's shoulder, which the mortuary van had left behind.
It was causing great distress the people trying to rebuild their homes adjacent
to the "grave".
Donations to help the people after the fire would most usefully include: Large
sacks of mielie meal, small saucepans, paraffin stoves, candles and safety candle
holders, non perishable food, tin openers, buckets, bedding, clothes for fat,
thin, old, young. Washthings including plastic buckets and bowls, handwashing
powder, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, facecloths, towels. School uniforms,
text books, shoes, straight timber poles for the corners of some shacks that
still need to be rebuilt, hammers, nails, wire.
Items should be brought to Children of Fire or direct to the non-political
group in the camp known as Emang Slovo, a registered Section 21 organisation.
(details can be provided).
THANK YOU TO:
Duncan Brisk aged 13 of Colchester, UK, who collected money to help with groceries
and get-back-on-your-feet supplies.
Mays Chemists in Melville provided first aid supplies for minor injuries for
the people rebuilding their shacks. Investec employees donated clothes.Tokkie's
Servicing and Repair Centre in Mondeor provided fruit for the children affected
and packets of sweets for many squatter camp children on Christmas Day. Dieter
de Meyere of Amamiwa provided 50kg of mielie meal.Anthony brought bed linen
and clothes. Makros in Woodmead contributed vouchers that helped with purchases
of some food, toothbrushes, etc. Peter & Cherith Munger, Mary & Ernest
Hutchinson, Lorraine Doyle, Julia Hill and her parents, John & Lyn Ernstzen,
Lisa and Lance Hutchinson, Lynn Densham, Lorna McCrindle, Molapo Tsotsotso,
Mieks Boehmer, St Mungo's church, and others whose names may not have been recorded.
Bedding was taken by Children of Fire on Christmas Eve to the 16 families in
Alexandra also affected by fire. The Alex residents had been given some mielie
meal by Region 7.
Residents of Joe Slovo (also known as Slovo Park) said that the political committee
had received bread but were keeping it in the old crèche and refusing
to share it with the people left destitute by the fire.
Region 4 said that in addition to some building materials, they had offered
food and accommodation to people affected by the fire which was "declined",
but in the centre of the camp the residents said that no one had told them anything
about this offer.
City of Johannesburg housing officials visited the scene at Slovo but Disaster
Management was conspicuous by its absence. Godfrey Segudu,the official theoretically
in charge of Alex, had his cellphone turned off on each occasion Children of
Fire's volunteers tried to contact him.
Bronwen Jones, Director, Children of Fire, Registered NPO 006-702 Website: www.icon.co.za/~firechildren Bank account: Children of Fire: First National Bank Cheque Acct: 62025852197
Melville Branch
Branch code 25-65-05
PO Box 1048, Auckland Park 2006,
Gauteng Province, Republic of South Africa. Tel +27 11 726 6529 Tel/fax/ans
+27 11 482 4258 cell 082 864 3560 (not for messages or SMS)
Donations can be taken to 111 St Swithin's Avenue, Auckland Park 2092. For people in Alex they can be taken to the UMashesha office in 4th
Street, Wynberg - contact Thomas Ranamane 082 692 2590; Emanuel Mthombeni 072
279 2108.
FIRE CLAIMS TWO LIVES AT JOE SLOVO CAMP 22nd December 2003
Somewhere around 3am on Monday
22nd December 2003 a fire started at Joe Slovo squatter camp in Coronationville,
Johannesburg. The fire was allegedly set by a 24 year old man who had allegedly
twice been previously accused of theft.
The people said that the fire brigade took a long time to come and that the
firefighters were inexperienced as to how to minimise the spread of fire. The
sole water tank provided by Children of Fire to the community, was used to good
effect at the nearest shacks. The fire was stopped adjacent to the tank.
Nonetheless at least 186 families have lost everything. This community was given
ten firefighting water tanks in December 2001 but they were chased away at the
time by David Masilo and his cohort Thomas. David Masilo works directly for
the ward councillor Fadiel Moosa. (Ward 68, Region 4). Telephone calls were
made at the time to Marvi Phanyane in the Mayor of Johannesburg's office, begging
that they talk sense to the ward councillor but the tanks were turned away.
This was recorded on national TV news. The tanks were subsequently given to
other communities in Setswetla, Alexandra and to a squatter camp in the Benoni
area, where they have been used effectively.
Since the ten tanks were turned away from Joe Slovo, there have been numerous
small fires and one terrible fire on August 25th 2003 (see below) in which 2000
people lost everything. A few families affected in August have again lost everything,
including the little girl Tsholofelo, one of the children who was taken in by
Children of Fire last time around. While the material loss is great again, the
only blessing is that a lot of people had already gone home to relatives in
rural South Africa for the Christmas period. They will be shocked to return
to piles of twisted metal and maybe others rebuilding where once their shacks
were. In the centre of the inferno, a couple lay sleeping. Wally Maduna, in
his early 50s and Sinah van Schalkwyk aged 52. Just the day before, Wally had
been talking to me. His ID was burned in a previous fire and he asked my help
to go to Home Affairs in Harrison Street, to get another one. I told him that
I would help him immediately after Christmas, as I had a lot of work up til
that time. This morning I saw what was left of his body. A kind well-mannered
and gentle man was just a lump of blackened flesh. Sinah lay beside him, equally
unrecognisable as a once-lively talkative woman.
At the source of the fire, Katlego
Malatji, a 13 year old boy, was terribly burned. He was taken to Helen Joseph
Hospital as allegedly there was no space in Chris Hani Baragwanath burns unit.
Anyone who is badly burned in Johannesburg, must go to Bara. It is the only
state hospital properly equipped to deal with burns. (WE WILL UPDATE ON KATLEGO'S
CONDITION LATER).
As the fire is a suspected case
of arson, Inspector Lawrence Shikwambana from Brixton SAPS was on the scene.
The mortuary van had not arrived five hours after the fire began. People stood
and looked at the human remains, their faces as ashen as the surroundings. My
son Tristan (12) called 10111 as soon as I had news of the fire and he again
called them as I phoned him from the squatter camp, learning the "control
four" terminology to ask that the mortuary van get there more quickly.
Requests to the fire brigade to surround the area where the bodies lay, with
red tape, fell on deaf ears. Joe Slovo squatter camp has some 8000 residents.
The population is predominantly Tswana from the Mafikeng area, but has people
of all South Africa's linguistic groups and a few from outside South Africa
as well. The large fire in August 2003 started at Majepere's shebeen, due to
a drunken argument. The previous large fire in mid July 2001 also started at
Majapere's shebeen. The trigger was alcohol. The second large fire in late July
2001 started at the end of the squatter camp closest to Coronation Secondary
School. The trigger was alcohol. Background information is on the website.
Residents of Joe Slovo who have been trained through Children of Fire and Brixton
Firebrigade in firefighting who assisted this time around included Patrick Ramohai,
Busi Nhlapo and Collen Mudau. All three of them lost their homes in this latest
fire and were suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.
Donations to help the people
after the fire would most usefully include:
Small
saucepans, stoves, candles and safety candle holders, non perishable food, tin
openers, buckets, bedding, clothes for fat, thin, old, young.
Washthings (hand washing powder, soap, towels, buckets, facecloths, toothpaste,
toothbrushes.)
School uniforms, text books, shoes, straight timber poles for the corners of
shacks that need to be rebuilt, hammers, nails, pickaxes, wire.
They can be delivered to: 111 St Swithin's Avenue, junction Sunbury Avenue,
Auckland Park.
URGENT APPEAL August 2003
On Sunday 24th August 2003 at 9pm, trustee Bronwen Jones was called by
the residents to help with the fire at Joe Slovo squatter camp as the fire
engines were not yet there - an hour after the fire started. She went
immediately and helped until about 1am, getting the hundreds of children to
shelter with local residents in Crosby and some into the school hall at
Coronation Secondary School. One kind woman took in eight boys including young
brothers Vhongani and Khumbulani and other families were persuaded to take in
smaller groups of mothers and babies. All the children in need were known to
Children of Fire as it has worked in this community for six years. Two of the
children Tsolofelo (12) and Alfred (9) went to Auckland Park for several days
as well as two little dogs made homeless by the blaze. The children (and the
dogs!) went to the Johannesburg School for Blind, Low Vision and Multiple
Disability Children (also set up by Children of Fire) until they could be
safely returned to their families. The dogs were also vaccinated and dewormed.
Sadly, political intimidation led to ten fire fighting tanks donated to
the Joe Slovo community by Children of Fire in December 2001, being taken to
other squatter camps instead. They would have reduced the damage enormously if
they had been in situ. However residents who had been trained in firefighting
by Children of Fire, helped break down two rows of shacks in the camp as a fire
break. This meant that only one third of the camp was razed to the ground
instead of the whole camp. These trainees included Busi Nhlapo, Mlungisi
Cakile, Obakeng Maje and Collen Mudau.
The hose fixing for the nearest hydrant broke off, delaying the fire
brigade's effective response. Some eight fire engines attended the fire
eventually, working from two sides of the camp where access was possible. On
the Monday morning Children of Fire handed safety candle holders and candles,
and bars of soap, to some 180 families. The next day it provided bags of mielie
meal and maize rice to 276 families.
The next day it provided saucepans, tin openers, clothes and shoes to
200 families. The next day tins of beans, tomatoes, packets of oats, and more
domestic items were shared out and by the Friday some 60 good blankets, two
tons of tinned mackerel and more domestic items were also given to the
people.
Thank you to Lisa Hutchinson, Rosemary and her father Alf Custers,
Investec Cradle Group, Pick n Pay, Debbie, John West, Hollard Insurance
employees, AMB Holdings, Operation Snowball, Norman and many more people.
The community is in need of school uniforms, exercise books,
dictionaries, stationery, more wash things, and every possible item of
household furniture that could be taken their way.
Two weeks two days before this fire, 108 families in Setswetla,
Alexandra, lost everything. Children of Fire is continuing to help them as
well.
The UMashesha have been active in both communities, especially Dorkus
Botopela, Cliff Mokaba, Rossina Malatje, Lucky Magampa, Thomas Ramane, Jimmy
Mathye, Emmanuel Mthombeni and Norah Maluleke. Children of Fire assisted the
media (SABC radio, 702 and others).
The cause of the fire in Joe Slovo was a drunk and angry woman throwing
a paraffin stove at her husband in a two storey shack. They lived above
Majapere's shebeen. The owner Aron Rambuda is a major squatter camp landlord.
His gas cylinders and other people's paraffin stocks made the blaze
particularly severe. A large fire also started at his shebeen on July 17th
2001. Elderly residents were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation but there
were no major injuries this time around. However some 550 shacks burned down
affecting 2000 people.
The cause of the fire in Setswetla (at 12 noon on a Friday) was a police
raid for illegal immigrants. As the men ran away, the last thing on their minds
was to turn off paraffin stoves or to check if they had fallen over. Children
of Fire also undertook fire awareness campaigns in Howick, Pietermaritzburg and
Port Elizabeth during August 2003.
June 2003 There have been two fires in Setswetla squatter
camp at the far end of Alexandra Township in late May and another fire in 1st
Avenue Alexandra in early June 2003. The fire in 1st Avenue resulted in a
fatality and injuries; the other fires just left several families destitute.
The fires were due to a paraffin stove exploding; illegal electrical
connections catching fire; and a knocked-over candle.
We need blankets, clothes and food to help
these people. Thank you to The Star's Operation Snowball for ten blankets and
to St Mungo's Church for donations of clothes. The office email access is currently not
available but please phone 011 482 4258 if you can help in any
way.
Sunday 9th February 2003
A fire occurred in a squatter camp off 11th Avenue in Alexandra at 1am
on Sunday 9th February 2003. There were no serious injuries. Close to the
London Road end of the avenue, the fire left 96 people destitute. The list of
people affected will be placed on the website at the end of the week, due to
technical problems.
Children of Fire's UMashesha (quick mover) volunteers were quickly on
the scene, including Jimmy Mathye who has just qualified as a Basic Ambulance
Assistant with St John Ambulance. The UMashesha are pleased to report that this
time Region 7 housing has been decisive and the people are being moved
temporarily to some empty Reconstruction and Development Project housing on the
edge of the Vasco da Gama Road.
Disaster Management has provided the people with blankets as well as a
little soup and bread - also a marked improvement on their handling of the
previous large Alex fire. However the fire should not have been so devastating.
No Alex fire engine could respond because there was no engine driver on
duty. The station has a severe staff shortage and a shortage of volunteers. The
first engine that came from Sandton had no water. The second engine that came
from Sandton had no water. Only the third engine carried water. That delay
caused many homes to be lost and damage estimated at R360 000.
No fire hydrant could be located near to the scene of the fire. And the
local fire brigade say that not all the hydrants have water in any case.
Children of Fire is appealing for clothes including school uniforms,
toys, school exercise books, shoes, crockery, cutlery, non-perishable food,
washing powder, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, and cooking pots.
Cash donations will be used for safe candle holders (R12) or for small
sugar-cane-gel stoves (R50) but if we are to purchase stoves we need to buy in
bulk and that would require a significant donation.
Items can be delivered direct to Thomas Ranamane, head of the UMashesha,
at their small office on the edge of Alexandra (Wynberg) tel: 082 391 3698 or
to our Auckland Park office tel 011 482 4258 or 011 726 6529. Thank you.
Bronwen Jones Children of Fire Trust, PO Box 1048, Auckland
Park 2006. Tel 011 726 6529 Tel/fax/ans 011 482 4258
Alexandra Fire, November 7th, 2002. One week
on...
The fire started around 3.30pm on Thursday when a woman called Bulelwa
Mbona (30) forgot she had left samp (a form of maize meal porridge) cooking on
her primus stove and went to play cards. Victor Khumalo, of the Children of
Fire UMashesha, was nearby and organised a bucket brigade to tackle the blaze.
He said: "The fire brigade came late to the scene. The first engine - their
pipe burst. The second engine, there was no water coming from their pipe. Then
the third managed to start extinguishing the fire, but really it was too
late."
Malcolm Midgley of Johannesburg Emergency Services praised the
UMasheshas' work, saying: "If they had not acted when they did, hundreds of
people would have been left homeless."
As it was, 98 people (including 31 children) were left destitute. The
woman who began the fire and another woman were taken to the Marlborough
transit camp but all the rest had to shelter in old shipping containers that
had formerly been used as a clinic on the edge of Setswetla squatter camp.
Setswetla is at one end of Alex. The women were to sleep inside and the men
were to be given a tent... but no tent ever arrived. The clinic was
foul-smelling and dirty before they arrived but no cleaning materials were
offered despite one of the temporary residents being a newborn baby girl (born
on November 6th, 2002).
Thin grey recycled-cloth blankets were provided and, eventually, four
50kg sacks of mielie meal, three 50kg sacks of soup and one 50kg sack of dried
beans. A week later only a little soup and maize flour remains with no talk
about fresh provisions. The people were given no cooking pots or stoves. In
urban Alexandra one cannot easily look for wood for fuel and a pot is essential
to cook food in.
Children of Fire approached Game Stores' head office in Durban and they
allowed us to choose 30 pots from their Wynberg store. Pick n Pay Hypermarket
in Norwood also kindly allowed us to take forty Blue Ribbon loaves of bread and
their leftover cakes and rolls on Saturday, November 9th, to share among the
people.
Clothes and other donations were given by the congregation of the
Baptiste Kerk in Auckland Park, neighbour Jackie Wrighton, journalist Trish Guy
and her friend Joanne Steytler, and one listener to an appeal on Radio 702.
More unusually and especially heartwarming, a group of residents of the Joe
Slovo squatter camp who have previously been helped by the charity, cleared out
their shacks and sent two sacks of clothes to their compatriots in Alexandra.
We also handed on 30 little teddies knitted by the UK Diocese of Chelmsford
"Teddies for Tragedies" group and brought to South Africa by Tina Robinson as
well as toddler clothes brought out by Liz and Shula of Markel International,
based in the UK. We thank them all.
School uniforms are needed by all the school-age children but particular
requests have been made by Jabulile - for a blue high school dress and
associated uniform for 13/14 yrs; Andile needs Ekukhanyisweni School - Maroon
uniform for 10/11 yrs and Nosisi needs a black tunic, white shirt and other
uniform for 7 yrs.
The displaced community was angry that their building materials had been
removed by Disaster Management with no promise of compensation. They say that
the "zincs" - sheets of corrugated iron - can be reused and have a second hand
value of some R50 a sheet. They were scared by rumours that they were going to
be moved to a distant area called Tembisa. They said that their children went
to school in Alexandra and that many of them have piece jobs or family support
systems around the township. They were then told that they were going to be
moved to seven zozos (like large prefabricated metal shacks) in Marlborough and
said that they could not divide the remaining 46 households into seven groups -
that it would simply be inappropriate for them to be forced to live in mixed
units with relative strangers in very close proximity. Then the police arrived
on Tuesday November 12th and demanded to know who gave them permission to live
in the clinic!
All this time there was no central official caring about their welfare.
The people said that even their R11500-a-month ward councillor was not
interested in assisting them. Resident Emanuel Thebo said that with all the
uncertainty about where they would eventually be allowed to live, all the
people who were previously self employed with small shops or hawking
businesses, had no chance to start earning an income again.
The UMashesha contine to monitor the situation with member Rosinah
living very close to the displaced community. On Thursday 14th November, Mrs
Ncumisa Mehana of Region 7 Health told Children of Fire that she would try to
assist if social services, housing and disaster management were doing nothing.
More household items, mens clothes and shoes would be much appreciated
by the residents.. as well as the loan of a bakkie to transport a cot from
Auckland Park to Alex, for newborn baby Zandile.
Please contact 011 482 4258 in Auckland Park or Thomas Ranamane on 082
391 3698 if using our Wynberg office.
People who lost their homes in the fire were as follows:
1. Martin Sisulu (21 yrs) and his two brothers Siyamthemba and Bongi Nkosi (both 27 yrs).
2. Khauphile Tywalana (34yrs) with Nomthuze Thobeka (32 yrs) and children Lubabalo (5) and Amanda (2).
3. Zolis Magawu (28 yrs) and children Thembalethu (12) and Sakhikhaya (5).
4. Ngabisile Zuziwe (43 yrs).
5. Bigboy Mbone (28 yrs) with children Thabisile (7) and Xolani (18 months).
6. Tabo Moni (30 yrs) and child Siyamtanda (8).
7. Bazi Gcinikhaya (29 yrs).
8. Vuyolwethu Mzalisi (24 yrs).
9. Sam Ntozili (33 yrs) and Nomveliso (23 yrs).
10. Cosmos Nleya (29 yrs).
11. Zoleka Noleleni (24 yrs) and Sanuse Tyaleni (36 yrs).
12. Andile Ncame (36 yrs) and Phindile Zwane (33 yrs).
13. John Masuku (27 yrs), Vuyuswa (32 yrs) and children Magolo (15) and Maphapheni (10).
14. Milford Mhlongo (34 yrs) and Fino (26 yrs).
15. Thabo Maselana (29 yrs) and Thobeka (50 yrs), Bongani (25 yrs) and Svuyile (15).
16. Lulamile Sibuta (32 yrs) and Noncedo (30 yrs).
17. Bongiwe Thinga (28 yrs).
18. Joyce and Vusi Nyathi.
19. Lulama Sebakulu Grootboom.
20. Tembisa Phahiwa and daughter Nosisi (6).
21. Patricia Ntozini.
22. Paulus Mandlazi.
23. Sam Khumalo and Bulelwa and children Nonzuze (boy aged 12), Anna (6) and Nosese (girl of 14 months).
24. Fernando Maqonasha.
25. Sithelwa Qominyana and Sithembisa.
26. Kelvin and Score.
27. Margaret Singo.
28. Lundi Mzuzu and Nozuko.
29. Ntombi Zanele, Mbalo - child Siyabonga (15).
30. Nomasoma Tinga and children Wando (boy aged 8) Luleka (girl aged 4).
31. Sithembele Fikepi. 32. Ntando Nomjila.
33. Philison Maphadimeng and child Makamele (girl aged 16).
34. Emanuel Thebo.
35. Myton Mpofu.
36. Portia Mkhathali.
37. Shadrack Moyo.
38. Vathiswa Magenu.
39. Siphogazi Mzimba.
40. Jane Mwale and children Jabulile (girl aged 12), Andile (girl aged 10), Zodwa (girl aged 2), Zandile (girl aged one day) Mathuli (18 years) and her child Nkosiegiphile (1yr).
41. Xoliswa Macklein and children Vuyokazi (girl of 14), Sbabaro (boy of 6).
42. Phatiswa and child Khuna (boy aged 6).
43. Pinki Siqula and baby Mihle (2 months).
44. Noluthando Mbalo.
45. Phamela Mguli and children Amanda (12), Vuyo (boy age 7), Luxolo (boy age 6).
46. Bulelwa Ruxwana and baby Aneza (one month). 47. Fino Moyo and Nendoda. 48.
Nomahlubi Ndabane.
The UMashesha also helped after a small fire in Setswetla on October 14th 2002 where eight shacks were damaged but the nearby Children of Fire water tank sponsored by Rosebank Rotary, was used to douse the flames. It had not been re-filled by November 8th but the UMashesha will keep requesting the fire brigade to do so.
The shacks affected there belonged to:
1. Patrick Mmda;
2. Thabo Sebetola;
3. Maria Ramothoha;
4. Evans Mmda;
5. Sipho Mmola;
6. Russia Sebola (three children);
7. Samson Sebola (two children). The total number of people in the combined households was 22.
Burned school books are just one of the many casualties when a shack burns down. Children of Fire estimates in 2002 that each shack burned down is a financial loss of at least R11 000. The shacks were squeezed together to make way for construction of the new flats. In September 2002 some 24 families lost everything in a squatter camp fire .. but the flats remain empty.
Early in the morning of Thursday September 5th, 2002, a man was
preparing for work in the squatter camp on 5th Avenue, Alexandra, near to
London Road. He went out, forgetting to turn off his primus stove. When he
realised a short while later and returned to turn it off, it was too late. A
score of shacks were ablaze.
The fire brigade came quickly and doused the flames but most families
had no time to rescue any possessions at all. As the children were still on
holiday (Gauteng Province state school holidays were rescheduled this year
because of the Sustainable Development Summit), they lost their uniforms and
their books. Burned pages of carefully written notes were left among the debris
of crumpled corrugated iron sheeting and twisted metal bedsteads. But all the
mattresses, blankets, curtains and clothes were gone. Because it was a daytime
fire, fortunately no one sustained any serious injuries.
Normally people would wait for the metal and ash to cool and resolutely
try to start building again - leastways anyone with enough money to buy
replacement timber poles, roofing nails and wire. But in Alexandra they are
told not to rebuild - because the (theoretical) plan is to rehouse them
instead.
Just the other side of 5th Avenue are tall, brightly painted, new blocks
of flats. The people in the shacks had had to move into a far more dangerous
and congested area to make way for the flats construction. But the flats stand
empty. Shack residents say that people can only apply to rent the flats if they
have a pay slip showing enough regular earnings. Few if any have such formal
employment, though one man said angrily that he did earn enough to rent a flat
but because he did "piece jobs" such as handyman and gardening work, he did not
have a record of his earnings.
Children of Fire's UMashesha volunteers said that they would assist him
with an application if he, instead of pay slips, had proof in the form of
regular savings in a bank or post office.
Sometime on Thursday morning, people from Greater Johannesburg
Municipality's Region 7 came to visit. They assured the people that they should
not rebuild their shacks as they would be rehoused.
The UMashesha went and took a careful list of affected residents. Their
list was shorter than that taken by Disaster Management because the UMashesha
live in Alex and are aware of people jumping on the bandwagon in the hope of a
free blanket.. so they interview them carefully.
An inaccurate report appeared on a news wire, falsely attributing the
fire to stolen electricity but seemed not to be followed up in print. The
people on the edges of this settlement had tapped into electrical supplies
illegally, but this was not the cause of the fire.
As Thursday went on, mostly the people waited to be told what to do.
They believed that local government officials would assist them.
The households affected were:
1. Joseph Maputha and his wife Rachel;
2. Simon and Sarah Ngwenya and their four children Tsepho 14, Daniel/Danny aged
ten, Judas aged seven and Justice aged three. The children attend Iputheng
school;
3. Nokulongo Msingapansi and her two children;
4. Noxolo Msingapansi and her three children;
5. Noluthando Litholi, Agnes, Steve and two boys -
Yanda aged four years and Indiphile aged eight months;
6. Nosipho Gege, her husband and their four year old son Sinalo;
7. Thoko Msimang, her two girls Sibongile aged 11 and Ntombizodwa aged eight years and their brother Mziwakhe aged six years;
8. Sydney Mashumu and two children;
9. Aron Mangena and one child;
10. Thokozane Khesng and two children aged 3 and 5; 11. Bongiwe and her husband;
12. Steve Kwenaite;
13. David Kwenaite;
14. Emma Kwenaite;
15. Frank Phetla;
16. Romano Mathye;
17. Themba Zikalala;
18. Sandile Chiliza;
19. Isaac Sikafa;
20. Bongani Mngadi;
21. Ntomboxolo and her daughter Abongile aged one year;
22. Sonnyboy his wife and their baby Junior aged three weeks. On Thursday, shortly after 5pm, Children of Fire returned to the scene. People were still waiting in sad groups, not knowing what to do. Every now and then, someone would throw a bucket of water over a new small fire springing up in the ashes. Nine hours after the blaze had been extinguished, the ash was still hot. A fire engine and a couple of firefighters waited in the road, it seemed more out of sympathy than anything else. The UMashesha asked the firemen to radio their control room and try to get some information for the people standing there, their faces cold, grey and miserable.
Finally three men associated with Disaster Management arrived: two of them were Godfrey Sigudu and Tsepho Motlhale They praised the UMashesha for their assistance with the Setswetla fire a month or so previously and thanked Children of Fire for the large donation of clothes taken there. But the UMashesha were more concerned about what was going to happen to the people from 5th Avenue that Thursday night.
Grey blankets made from recycled cloth, were handed out. The thin blankets are normally sold -- in smaller sizes -- to line dog baskets. They leave fluff in African hair and are not very warm, but are standard "disaster relief" fare. There was no food provided.
Disaster Management complained at how little stock the Red Cross had.
Disaster Management complained that Region 7 Housing had done nothing. Disaster Management told us that the people would be able to sleep in the white church in 3rd Avenue for two days until a better plan was made.
So - the UMashesha asked: "You have blankets, you have accommodation arranged, there is nothing else useful that we can do tonight, is there?" "No," they were told.
The team then went off for a separate meeting with Zolani at the Alexander Care Centre and arranged to visit the church the next morning to see what help was needed and could be met by Children of Fire's resources.
The people were not there on Friday morning. Contrary to what the charity had been told would happen, the fire victims had been left in the open, all night, to fend for themselves.
Children of Fire immediately contacted Vicky Manyati, formerly head of Disaster Management and now a notch higher, as head of Proactive Services.
The charity expressed its shock that parents and young children, including a three week old baby, had remained outside all night. We suggested a press conference should be called to explain what a disaster Disaster Management seemed to be. Further calls followed with officials "guaranteeing" that the people would not have another night in the open, nor even another day of uncertainty.
The higher ranking officials were relatively courteous; the lower ranking ones were not. They asked why the charity was questioning what they did. Under what authority? The charity's watchdog role was explained as well as the fact that all bodies funded by the taxpayer - such as Disaster Management and local government housing departments, are answerable to the tax payer. That the government has pledged accountability and transparency and the UMashesha wanted that to be seen to be put into practice on 5th Avenue.
Late on Friday evening one official in the housing department showed great distaste for the squatter camp residents. He said that they shouldn't be there at all. That there were no places in Alex to erect tents because all the open spaces were filled with shacks. Disaster Management blamed Region 7 housing and Region 7 housing blamed Disaster Management.
At 13.40 hours on Friday Godfrey Sigudu said that there was a disaster management plan for all areas of Greater Johannesburg and that one existed for Region 7. "Marike Joubert [the new head of Disaster Management] has a copy".
She was not available on her cellphone and did not call back after a message was left.
Godfrey said that he spoke to Anthony Blandford, who said that there was
no accommodation because the Marlboro transit camp was full with previous fire
survivors. Godfrey was told to go to Franz of housing, who comes under Patricia
Mazibuko in Region 7. Godfrey said that Franz refused to help. "He said he
won't help, he won't do anything." Godfrey said that he had spoken to Franz
even on Thursday afternoon. "He was on his way home. I said they can't sleep on
the pavement. He suggested the church in 3rd Avenue but the pastor Mr Khumalo
was on his way home to Natal. The wife said she could do nothing without his
agreement." Godfrey said: "The housing department become aloof. They just stand
as spectators. The pastor's wife did agree to the use of the church. We
co-ordinated the situation." He spoke of "roleplayers" and "stake holders" and
"line functions". But the people slept outside on Thursday night.
Late on Friday evening, September 6th 2002, resident Bongani Mngadi
said: "We are cleaning here because we didn't get any help from the council.
They keep on promising they'll come but they don't. By now we could have
rebuilt our shacks and wouldn't be outside in the cold and the rain. They
promised a tent for the second night and even that we know is only because
Children of Fire kept the pressure on them. But when that council man Franz
says it might arrive at 10pm or even midnight, and it only has to come from
Mayfair (30 minutes drive away), why should we believe him anymore? There is no
place to erect the tent because they told us not to clear our broken shacks
away."
Another resident commented: "One man said they could put the tent on the
road. How? We have no beds. All the rain will run down the road and soak the
blankets. The people will become ill. This government doesn't care about the
poor at all."
Franz maintained that people rejected a tent on Friday night but Thomas
Ranamane of UMashesha, who remained on the scene well into the night, said that
the people were so cold and miserable that they didn't believe anything any
official said any more.
Children of Fire only had enough clothes donations to assist the family
with the most children as the volunteers had just the week before followed up
with all the people in the Marlboro transit camp still hoping to be rehoused
after the London Road (near 6th Avenue) fire. We appeal for more clothes and
anything to assist the children in particular.
The people assisted at Marlboro were:
Room 3: Lungelwa Siwundla 7702021078088 (two people);
Room 47 Phinias M Mogaola 6308145592086;
Room 39 James Ngobeni 6602195368086 (two people);
Room 41: Isibiyana Lungisani 7202036533086;
Room 42: maSangawane Zolile 7501135967081;
Room 32: July Hlongwane 07015876085;
Room 39: Mkhize Mlungisi 73100305553089;
Room 29: Isaac Sobudula 7506067661081;
Room 29: Nelson Ngceni 7406076085087;
Room 36: Phumzile Moloi 7405255967089 (two people);
Room 10: Silima Asilia 460303820082 (three people); Sweety Madolo 7501201039088 (three people); Grace M Mohale
7403260793087 (three people);
Room 23: Ndaba Novuyiseka 6409241107082;
Room 6: Tom Bongani 7403056342081 (two people);
Room 64: Norma Nokwana 5807160751080;
Room 34: Vatsha Mbongeni 7907195602082 (two people);
Room 42: Vumile Masangawana 7907195602080;
Room 46: Nelson Mngwenya 590505533082;
Room 37: Zwelithini Hlongwane 8308065510082;
No room number: Nomzaza Siyabonga 81041654965088 (two people);
Room 40: Patrick Zithia 7501025896084 (two people);
Room 28: Jeaneth Pietiri 8005020898087 (two people).
A Cruel Winter in Alexandra
None of the three large fires described below, were even mentioned in local newspapers. More than 180 families losing everything is sadly commonplace for winter in squatter camps.
5th August 2002
There has been another large fire in Alexandra - the biggest so far this winter. Any assistance will be appreciated.
Mathobela Tzani, a Zulu-speaking man aged about 28, went drinking in a
local shebeen one Sunday night. One of his neighbours said that people knew he
had had too much to drink but none dared comment because of his violent temper
when intoxicated. Mathobela was a building contractor with a liquor problem. He
went home that night, totally drunk, and fell asleep with the candle still
alight, the paraffin stove still on. His shack burned down and he died. This
took place in a squatter camp alongside London Road, Alexandra township, near
the junction with 6th Avenue (and not far from Inkanyeze Primary School), at
2a.m. on Monday August 5th 2002.
In total some ninety families lost almost everything. The adults were
each given two blankets by the Red Cross and other organisations helped in a
variety of ways. Unlike the other big fires this past winter, the people were
not allowed to rebuild their hovels in the previously treacherous path of the
powerlines, but are to mostly be rehoused in an area known as Bram Fisher.
However in the area adjacent to the 90 shacks that were razed to the ground, far more shacks still string along London Road towards 2nd Avenue.
For now a large number of families made destitute by the August 5th fire, remain in zozos (August 19th 2002). These one room corrugated-iron houses
with concrete floors and hardboard as rudimentary insulation are courtesy of a
Taiwanese Buddhist foundation in Marlboro. The place is clean, unusually quiet
and even has a few saplings and token patches of grass, but the people are cold
and hungry. Zozos house either four women, four men, or two couples. The men
and women share accommodation with strangers or have no accommodation at all.
The rectangular zozos are at least twice as big as an average shack and look
more spacious as the residents have almost no possessions to put in them.
People have beds if the general public have donated them. Hardly anyone has a
chair to sit on. They are not allowed to light fires inside their zozos, other
than on small paraffin stoves for cooking. Hot water
bottles costing about R30 each, would help.
Some families have been divided as a mother says her young adult
daughter qualified for a tiny house and so took her little siblings with her
but left her parents in the zozos. A young man said he had been away the night
of the fire and returned to find everything of his was burned - including his
security officer's uniform. He lost his job because he had lost his uniform.
The Children of Fire UMashesha went to the scene on Monday morning and
collected a list of people whose shacks had burned down. They were informed of
the fire by team member Joyce.
The total number of people living in the shack follows the name of the
householder.
Thank you to: Investec Cradle Group; Michele from AAA; three members
of the congregation of St Peter's Anglican Church in Auckland Park; neighbour
Jacky Wrighton; the Salvation Army Firlands Children's home; Hans, Lulu and her
colleagues at the German School and the late Lydia Manzana, for donations to
assist people who lost their homes in the recent Alex fires.
In the Thursday 18th July 2002 afternoon fire, 154
people in 56 shacks in Setswetla squatter camp in Alexandra Township, lost all
their possessions. Many people were at piece jobs and so could not drag their
household goods away from the inferno's path. Fortunately there were no serious
injuries. But in the winter season, the supplies of many charitable
organisations had run very low and they need help to build up some emergency
stocks again.
Children of Fire has placed firefighting water
tanks in Setswetla but it is a large camp and the tanks were not in the
affected section. The fire was close to the Juseki river and floating pumps
could be a future preventative option - if their security from theft and
vandalism could be guaranteed.
Heads of household helped in the 56 shack fire (with the number of
dependents) were:
1. Alex Mashaba x 3; 2. Venus Ngobeni x 3 3. Andrius Makukulo x 2; 4.
Samuel Banze x 1; 5. Andros Khosa x 2; 6. Lovie Malumana x 3; 7. Josiah
Shirinda x 3; 8. Grace Mabunda x 2; 9. Princess John x 3; 10. Mziwehlahla
Ngubani x 2; 11. Meshack Jabani x 2; 12. Lerato Malisa x 3; 13. Amos Khosa x 1;
14. Emmanuel Ramahlo x 1; 15. William Mhlanga x 2; 16. Thomas Ramoshaba x 2;
17. Mziuvukile Jokweni x 1; 18. Alfred Ngobeni x 2; 19. William Nkuna x 9; 20.
Litto Sithole x 3; 21. Samson Chauke x 5; 22 Matome Motele x 1; 23 Eric Lithumi
x 3 24 Willie Motele x 7; 25 Robert Molewa x 4; 26. Godfrey Baloyi x 1; 27.
Algga Buthelezi x 2; 28. Sabao Chauke x 4; 29. Lungelo Ngobo x 2; 30 Nocawe
Mafuba x 3; 31 George Makamu x 2; 32 . Thomas Ramolefo x 2; 33. Wilson Chauke x
3; 34. Clearance Moremi x 4; 35. Peter Seroba x 2; 36. Walter Muzimba x 3; 37.
Isaac Libombo x 5; 38. Norman Chauke x 4; 39. Moshoma Botha x 3; 40. Salphinwa
Matsena x 3; 41. Revelation Ngobeni x 3; 42. Alex Maluleke x 3; 43. Thomas
Simango x 1; 44. Israel Matosa x 5 45. Peter Rapudubudu x 4; 46. Sunday Molewa
x 3; 47. Peter Ramatabani x 2; 48. Raymond Shilangu x 4; 49. Nelson Baloyi x 4
50. Samuel chauke x 2; 51. Goliath Chauke x 2; 52. Abednigo Makhubele x 2; 53.
James Makondo x 1; 54. Albert Chauke x 2 55. Godfrey Chauke x 1; 56. Lawrence
Chauke x 2
Less than a week earlier, on Saturday July 12th 2002, there was a large
fire mid-morning in a squatter camp off 14th Avenue (near the junction with
Rooseveldt). At least 22 households lost everything that they own but
fortunately there was no loss of life and no significant injury. The UMashesha
were on the scene before the blaze was extinguished. The fire brigade could
only fight the flames from the rooftops as there was no access possible between
the tightly packed shacks. They brought their own water supplies with them.
We extended help to the following "family" units:
1. Lucinda Masimini, Nosazizo Faye, Ntombifuthi Masimini, Nosiphiwo
Mangwana. 2. Fezile Khwatsha, Nomyalezo Khwatsha. 3. Maria Motimele 4.
Mahlongwana Nongena, Nana Nongena (child), Aphiwe Nongena (child), Mambhele
Jacisa. 5. Solomon Mati 6. Paul Diale 7. Julius Sibamba 8. Thandazile Ngubo,
Philisi Mafu, Vuyokazi Ngubo (child), Simthembile Ngubo (child), Amos Mvemve.
9. Mambhele Jili, Joseph Jawuza. 10. Zuluboy Sithole, Ephraim Lepule. 11.
Fundile Mazwane, Noxolo Mazwane Sibhembe, Nozuko Mazwane, Mzuhleli Mazwane,
Khaykazi Lubazane. 12. Petros Vilakazi 13. Anton Mabunda 14. John Masango,
Thulisile and Nkosinathi (children), Ntomfuh Mqwathi, Elsie Mqwathi. 15. Grace
Rallele, Mpho Rallele, Virginia Rallele. 16. Mathe Ntombi 17. Ruben Koos
Stoliz, Anna Mokoena, Lovinlie Mokoena. 18. Elliot Ramashaba, Sylvester
Mabatha. 19. Bongiwe. 20. Rodrick Nkomo, Andrew Mncube, Sibongile (and baby).
21. Makhosi Cele. 22. Thembi.
In recent weeks we have alos helped people at smaller fires in 6th, 8th and 9th Avenues in Alexandra.
The UMashesha volunteers now have an office in the Prosperitas Building
in 4th Street, Wynberg - just over the highway from Sandton (Grayston Road
offramp) and donations can be taken direct to office 212 - just contact Thomas
Ranemane on 082 391 3698 or Elizabeth Botopela on 082 396 8029 to ensure that
someone will be there - or alternatively to the other office at 111 St
Swithin's Avenue, Auckland Park (phone 011 482 4258 or 011 726 6529 to confirm
appropriate time to deliver clothing).
