While most families around the country and the world are preparing for a bright Christmas, the Ntamnani family, in Driftsands, is in limbo.
They are not sure how they will celebrate Christmas after their shack was razed by fire on Monday morning 28 November.
Two shacks were destroyed by the fire and 11 people were left displaced at Sophakama informal settlement, Driftsands.
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Fire victim Boniswa Ntamnani (33) and her three children aged five, nine and 11 lost everything. They only saved the clothes they had on during the incident. They had to seek refuge and something to eat from the neighbours.
A bitter Ntamnani said the blaze started while she was cooking for her children.
“Monday was very hot, so we were seated in the shadow behind the shack. My neighbour sensed the smoke and the fire detector had already been triggered at the other neighbour’s house,” she said.
“When I ran to investigate, the shack was already engulfed by the blaze. It was so big and spread very quickly,” said Ntamnani.
When the word spread, neighbours came armed with spades and buckets of water to put out the fire.
When City Vision arrived at the scene, residents were trying in vain to douse the fire with sand and water.
“We are appealing for any assistance that may come our way. Christmas is just around the corner but as things stand ours is going to be a dark one,” she said.
“I rely on the government grant and as things stand, we only have the clothes we had on. No food, no shoes and absolutely nothing,” she wept.
“My children have lost their birth certificates, I also lost my ID and all our belongings went up in smoke. Please any Good Samaritan out there must help us, we are in a dire situation,” said Ntamnani.
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Jermaine Carelse, the spokesperson for the City’s Fire & Rescue Service, said an emergency call was received just before 11:30 of informal structures burning off Old Faure Road, in Driftsands, on Monday 28 November.
“Crews from Mfuleni and Khayelitsha responded to the scene and found two structures burning. The fire was extinguished at 12:30 and 11 persons were displaced,” he said.
The cause of the blaze is unknown, and no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Anyone who can help please reach out to Boniswa at 0849582470