A triple tragedy has struck a Hanover Park family whose home burnt down as they were preparing for a funeral on Sunday.
The heartbroken family of Yassiem Marcus, 42, who passed away suddenly on Saturday, say they had to rush outside with his body after a candle fell over and caused the inferno at their home in Surwood Walk.
His sister Ruwayda, 52, says the single man who worked as a gardener in Kenwyn and Plumstead, came home on Saturday and collapsed while greeting his family.
“He was healthy and then he just collapsed when he got home,” she says.
“Doctors told us he had high blood pressure that caused a brain haemorrhage and he died.”
BODY WAS SAVED: Yassiem Marcus, 42
On Sunday, the grieving family still attended the funeral of their aunt in Valhalla Park who had passed away earlier in the week, and then went to collect Yassiem’s body from the mortuary.
He was to be laid to rest on Monday.
“The body was already wrapped and was in the upstairs room where the boetas were saying prayers,” says Ruwayda.
“The women were downstairs when the fire started in the back room.
“The globe had fused and a candle was lit in the room. The wind was very strong on Sunday and it blew over.”
The group of men ran down the stairs carrying Yassiem’s body which they took to his aunt Faiza Arendse’s home.
Faiza says: “I went back to my house in Oribi Court just after 10pm and I just heard my child scream: ‘ Mammie, dit brand! Ons het die body!’.
“They put it down on a mattress in my house and we went over to find the house destroyed in the fire.
BURNT OUT: Lit candle caused the destruction of the Surwood Walk, Hanover Park home on Sunday. Picture: Monique Duval
“When it was out, we went upstairs and saw that while the roof and everything was destroyed, the Qur’an on the table was still intact.
“We are glad they got the body out,” says Faiza.
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, says they received a call for help shortly after midnight and 14 firefighters responded.
“The fire was extinguished at 1.17am and the cause has not been determined yet. The body was removed prior to the arrival of the fire service.”
Sister Gamieda says after burying her brother on Monday, the family are now trying to rebuild their lives.
“We buried him at the Mowbray Cemetery and we will miss him so much,” she says.
STUNNED: Sister Gamieda Marcus
“He wasn’t married and didn’t have any children and he lived here with us.
“Together we are a family of 12 that have lost so much.”
Anyone who would like to help can call Gamieda on 063 489 0988.