A brave Manenberg ouma is lucky to be alive after she ran through the flames to escape a fire which engulfed her home.
Rachel Martin, 80, has now been left with nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat after she lost all her Sassa money in the blaze which broke out in her Pecos Road home on Saturday.
“I was sleeping inside my room and when I woke up I just saw the flames on fire,” she explains.
“I got a skrik and just ran for the door but it was in flames. The fire spread to my bed and I was trapped inside but someone kicked the door in and I just ran through the flames.
“I wasn’t burnt at all, only a stukkie of my hair burnt.”
City Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse says they received the call for help shortly after 9pm.
“It was loadshedding during the time of the incident,” he said.
“The crews were escorted into the area. A formal dwelling and an informal structure were destroyed in the fire.
“The cause is unknown and the fire was extinguished at 11.09pm.”
When the Daily Voice visited Rachel’s home on Sunday, she could be seen clearing the debris from her room.
“I am happy I am alive but so stressed. I withdrew my Sassa money on Friday and was going to pay my rent and buy me food on Monday but now I can’t even pay rent,” she says.
“I have nowhere to sleep and the neighbours are helping me. We still don’t know how the fire started but I am waiting for the inspectors to come out.”
Anyone who would like to help ouma is asked to call Ayesha on 061 211 0387.