Fire Claims Four Lives
A devastating fire broke out in a building in Jeppe, Joburg, in the early hours of Saturday, 25 August, leaving many residents homeless and killing at least four people. The blaze, caused by illegal electrical connections, also sent more than 10 people to the hospital, with one person in critical condition.
Sthabiso Zulu, from KwaNongoma in KZN, tragically lost his two brothers in the fire. Struggling to express his grief, he admitted he hasn’t informed his family back home about the tragedy. “It’s very painful. I cannot talk. This could happen to anyone, and no one expected this. It was around midnight, at bedtime,” he said.
In the aftermath, Sthabiso desperately searched for his brothers but found no trace of them. “I went out looking for my brothers with no luck. This is very painful. I don’t know what to do or where to start. I lost my two brothers and the money I earned from selling things,” he shared.
He urged the government to provide safer and more secure housing to prevent such tragedies in the future. “We need safe and secure places to reduce the risk of fires. It would be very helpful if the government assisted with legal housing. We need places where we can sleep safely because we have nothing left,” he said.
