A Manenberg family has been left homeless after a fire started by a fallen candle destroyed their Wendy house on Monday morning.
Dad Riedewaan McGregor, 36, says he watched helplessly as the blaze destroyed all his children’s belongings.
He believes mice are to blame for the fire.
“I was at home but my two children were sleeping by their ouma. In the early hours, my girlfriend Wagieda Williams, 32, left the house and I went to see where she was going,” he explains.
“I left the candle but it was small and it never falls over. The neighbours think it was load shedding but we live in a backyard and used to have electricity, but my lead broke and I didn’t have money for a new one so we were using candles, but it’s never a problem.
“There are mice here and they are always running against everything and I think they knocked it over.
“When I got here, I saw the flames everywhere and the whole Wendy house was gone.”
BLAME: Dad Riedewaan, 36. Picture: Monique Duval
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, says they received the call for help at 4.25am.
“Gugulethu’s fire engine and water tanker as well as the rescue vehicle from Ottery were on scene with a total of nine staff,” he says.
“One informal structure was completely destroyed and the fire was extinguished at 5.06am. No injuries were reported.”
Riedewaan says the family is now sleeping at the homes of relatives: “We have nowhere to sleep.
“My eight-year-old daughter, Gabiba Imaan, can’t even go to school because she has nothing.”
Anyone who would like to help can call Arashaad on 073 5267 066
.