The unemployed mother of four survives by selling metal to scrapyards.
Sikhakane said that, on Thursday, last week, she went to pick up metals from a nearby source at around 9am, when she received a phone call from neighbours telling her that her shack was on fire.
“For a moment my world stopped as I thought about my belongings in the shack. When I got to my house my shack was on fire; I couldn’t do anything but cry,” Sikhakane said.
Luckily, a neighbour, Thabo Thejdone, saw the fire when it started and managed to save Sikhakane’s children’s births certificates, identity documents and some of the children’s clothes.
“I heard neighbours screaming and when I went outside I realised that my neighbour’s shack was on fire,” he said.
“I gained access through the window and managed to save the important documents and clothes, but the furniture had already caught fire.”
According to the neighbours, the fire started outside the yard.
Sikhakane’s neighbours have managed to build another small shack for the family, and the Disaster Management Services Department responded by donating six blankets.
The Sikhakane family is pleading for the communities to assist them. People interested in helping can contact Sibongile Thusi, a community leader, on 078 950 6190.
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