Mfuleni shack blaze parents die in hospital
|Published
DISCUSSION: Meeting in Mfuleni about funeral and future of the kids DISCUSSION: Meeting in Mfuleni about funeral and future of the kids
The man who allegedly set his house on fire with his wife and nine children in it in a fit of jealousy has died along with his wife.
Luvuyo Kota, 59, died in hospital with his wife Nosandiso, 59, over the weekend.
The man described as evil by neighbours allegedly tried to kill his whole family, including his nine children, last Wednesday morning.
The couple’s five-year old daughter perished in the fire.
Their eldest daughter, Sive, 24, says Luvuyo was abusive and would often deny them food.
“He hated us,” said Sive. “He collected the younger children’s grants and if he bought meat, he would give us the gravy and had all the meat for himself.”
RUINS: The burnt remains of the shack in Mfuleni
To earn an income, Sive and her 22-year-old sister would do people’s hair: “We are good at doing hair and people hire us.”
She confirms her father was a jealous man who did not like their mother dressing provocatively.
“My dad did say that death will tear them apart. He did not want anyone close to mom,” says Sive
“The abuse started in 2010.
“We are not only left without a mother, but we do not have a home anymore either.”
She says they do not know what drove her father over the edge last week when he set their home alight. He did not drink alcohol, she said.
On Sunday the children’s family held a meeting to discuss their future as well as funeral arrangements.
Family spokesperson Sindile Maqokolo says the couple’s remaining children aged 24, 22, 20, 16, 11, nine and twins aged seven are orphaned and lost.
“He sold their home in the Eastern Cape, if it was not sold, we would be sending all the children there,” says Sindile.
“What I am gathering here is that he was abusive towards his family. The children are not coping, especially with their mother also passing away.”
HELP: Spokesperson Sindile Maqakolo
Local councillor Thembisile Batembu says the community has raised money for DNA testing for the five-year old as her little body had been burnt beyond recognition.
“We had just raised the DNA money and we were hoping to speed up the process so the five-year-old can be buried when the news of the parents came,” says Batembu.
“What happened here is shocking and painful.”
The councillor said he would wait to hear from the family before announcing what type of assistance they will be providing.
The children are currently staying with neighbours.