A Mitchells Plain family of five has lost everything in a fire that gutted their home.
Maggie van Rooyen, 74, says she was asleep in their Orpheus Street flat in Woodlands when the blaze broke out at 4am on 20 October: “We didn't even know the house was burning, we just heard windows breaking and then I woke up and saw flames from my bedroom, the fire was in the lounge and I closed the room door to protect myself and my 54-year-old blind, disabled son.”
Maggie and three other relatives were in the house and screamed for neighbours to help.
“The house was dark with smoke and I couldn’t see. I’m also blind in my left eye, my nieces were in the room upstairs and couldn’t get out.
“Neighbours gathered outside and broke our burglar bars to get us out through the window. The fire spread fast but we got out in time luckily.
She says her son needs adult nappies, which were lost in the fire.
The family is now staying upstairs with neighbour Shafieka Baderoen, 61, who offered them accommodation with her family of five.
Shafieka says: “We don’t have much but we are fine. Maggie is my eldest sister, I had to give them this space, they sleep on the floor in the lounge.
Shafieka is appealing to mense to assist the family. If you would like to assist, call her on 081 094 7807.
Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue spokesperson Jermaine Carelse says the cause of the fire is unknown: “Three adult females and one disabled male suffered smoke inhalation.
"An adult female sustained burn wounds to both arms and was treated and transported by Metro Ambulance to hospital.”