Madilonga Rambuwani, a 26-year-old resident of the Midrand Broadwalk Urban Village, narrowly escaped death after a fire ripped through the residential complex on the night of September 24, leaving 130 families homeless.
“I’m grateful to be alive,” Rambuwani said, describing the moment she heard alarms but initially thought it was a false alarm. It wasn’t until she heard people screaming and saw thick smoke that she realized the danger. Grabbing her laptop and cellphone, she fled into the darkness as walls crumbled around her. “I was scared to die,” she recalled.
Emergency services reportedly took about an hour and a half to arrive. Fortunately, Rambuwani found shelter with a friend nearby for the night.
Another survivor, Sibongile Nkabinde, fled with just her nine-month-old son. “The only thing I have to my name at the moment is my kid and a laptop,” she said. Like many affected, she’s left with nothing and hopes to recover her rent and deposit to start over.
Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) confirmed that most residents were evacuated safely, with some treated for injuries. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and EMS urged residents to inspect accommodation safety measures and ensure electrical appliances are turned off after use.
“I’m Grateful to Be Alive”
-Daily Sun
