A Delft family has been struck by a double tragedy after losing their home to a fire which killed their seven-year-old child during the early hours on Monday.
Hartseer ouma Bongiwe Zisiwe, 46, has been left traumatised after the charred body of her grandson, Alakhe, was found in the debris of her Ebbehout Street home.
She had risked her life to save the terrified boy just hours before.
Bongiwe says she was woken up by smoke and then screams for help from Alahke’s mother, Esuthu, 28, who tried to escape the flames.
“I was sleeping and the last I remember Alakhe was watching TV and Esethu was sleeping.
“I was in my room when I woke up because the smoke was coming from under the door. I saw the fire was by the couch,” the granny says.
HARTSEER: Bongiwe
The brave ouma rushed to get water from the kitchen but as the water was only a trickle, it was not enough to douse the flames.
The family ran to the front gate to escape but the metal bars were stuck and she struggled to get it open.
“Esethu was shouting, ‘Mama the fire’. I got it open and Esethu got out and then I realised Alahke was not there anymore.”
The scared boy had ran to the back of the house and hid under a bed.
“I went to the window and shouted for him. I broke the window open and tried to get through the burglar bars but couldn’t get through, that is how my arm burnt. I tried so hard but he didn’t answer me,” Bongiwe cries.
DOUBLE BLOW: The cause of the Ebbehout Street home is still unknown
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse says firefighters received a call for help shortly after 1.30am: “They found the body of a boy in one of the bedrooms. The fire was extinguished at 2.20am, before the scene was handed over to SAPS’ Forensics Unit. The cause of the fire is unknown.”
Bongiwe and Esethu were rushed to Delft Day Hospital but Esethu was transferred to Eerste River Day Hospital.
“She had burns all over her face, arms and chest. They didn’t tell us how severe it is,” says Bongiwe.
The little boy was in Grade 1 at Welwitschia Primary School.
TRAUMA: Little Alakhe Zisiwe took cover under the bed to hide from the fire
“He was a friendly child and never caused me any problems,” says the ouma.
“ I am going to miss him. He didn’t deserve to die like this, he was so young.”
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