An elderly couple has been left homeless after a fire destroyed their Mitchells Plain home in the early hours of Monday morning.
The family, who live with an adopted daughter they found on the street, were sleeping when the blaze broke out.
Athaylia Volkwyn, 59, says she does not know what might have caused the fire: “There was just smoke coming from one of the rooms. I think the electrical box exploded while we were sleeping.”
She says they rushed out as the flames ravaged their Eastridge home.
Athaylia says they are left without a home and do not have any money to rebuild.
“It has been 38 years since we moved in here and this was the first time we had a fire breaking out,” she says.
“We are not working and we do not get any pension besides the R350 Covid-19 Relief Fund.”
The house’s structure is still standing, but the inside is completely gutted with the roof looking like it is likely to collapse.
She added that while they were putting out the fire, someone stole her geyser.
“We realised that the geyser was gone when the sun came out. I think the people who were helping us took it,” she says.
“The municipality offered us a container to live in, but it’s winter and it will be cold for us.”
Her daughter Anthea said her parents cannot live in a container as it compromises their health.
“Both my parents are 59 and they need to have this house rebuilt or they will get sick,” she says.
“We were wondering if they cannot get help to rebuild the house.”