A Bonteheuwel family has been left reeling in shock and disappointment after they lost everything in a fire which ravaged three Wendy houses on Wednesday.
It is believed the fire was started by jongens who were smoking a pyp in the gangetjie between the Wendy houses and Arcadia High School.
Roger Nehemiah, 45, says they have lost all their Christmas shopping they did on Monday.
“We had a 3x6 meter Wendy house. My wife and I had just gone shopping for Christmas meats and clothes and now we lost everything,” the hartseer father says.
“The fire broke out at about 5pm, it all happened so fast. We wanted to save some items, but we could not as the roof had already caved in.”
Two other Wendy houses on the property were also gutted while a fourth one was only partially damaged. Six adults and three children have been left homeless.
Roger says: “We lost everything. The only things we have are the clothes on our backs.
“We don’t know how the fire started exactly, but we suspect dit was jongens wat ’n pyp gerook het hier agter in die gangetjie.”
SHOCK: Dad Roger Nehemiah lost alles. Picture: Jack Lestrade
Now, the three families are crammed like sardines in the main house which only has three bedrooms.
Due to the fire they’re also stuck without water and electricity.
Homeowner, Constance Julies, 71, was helping the women make sandwiches when the Daily Voice arrived on the scene on Thursday.
“I am very heartbroken at all of this,” says Constance.
“They work so hard to get everything and now they’re left with nothing and it’s almost Christmas.
“We’re just sitting in the dark. Here is nothing, the children are hungry. It’s not right.”
To assist the families, contact Gamieda on 065 846 6247.