The Ngalo family in Shushwana locality in Ngcobo have appealed to any Good Samaritan to assist them in burying five relatives from this family who died in their sleep when their four-room house caught fire, last week.
The deceased are Nowatile Ngalo (73), who died after she arrived at All Saints Hospital in Ngcobo due to burn wounds; her grandchildren, Asiphumeze (10), who was in Grade 5, his brother, Simamkele (9), who was in Grade 3 (both were learners from Thora Primary School in Ngcobo), and their cousins, Luthando (5) and Kungomusa (2).
Ayabonga Ngalo (11) managed to escape through a window and went to ask for help from the neighbours.
According to the father and uncle of the deceased, Siyabonga Ngalo (31), there is no-one that is working in the family; they have temporary jobs so they cannot manage to bury five people.
One of the neighbours, Nolusindiso Ngomana (63), said she was sleeping when she was awakened by one of the neighbours informing her about this incident.
“When I checked time, it was 12 midnight; fortunately in our neighbourhood there were some people who were drinking alcohol. They rushed to the Ngalo family and kicked the door open. When I arrived, I found four children lying outside, because they were already taken out. I saw their grandmother (Nowatile), I cannot explain her situation, it was very terrible, but she was still talking, she called me to come with a pillow,” said Ngomana.
She said she was rushed to hospital, but she could not make it.
She confirmed that ever since it was still hard for her to close her eyes, because she always had visions of that night.
“Nowatile was very friendly, and she would wake up very early and prepare for her grandchildren to go to school, but now that will never happen again”.
The principal of Thora Primary School in Ngcobo, Mvuyisi Mxokozeli, described this incident as a big blow because their school is still new in the area.
He confirmed that it was opened on April 12, 2022.
Mxokozeli added that these children had left a gap in his school, and no-one will close it.
“We are still new; now we have to face this situation. What is more painful is that we are now writing exams, and this has disturbed our learners.
“We are appealing to the Department of Education to assist us with Psychosocial Services, so that our learners and teachers can get counselling.
“It is more painful to those learners who were sharing desks with them.
“We are now forced to re-arrange them so that we can try to help them,” said Mxokozeli.
Police spokesperson, Captain Namhla Mdleleni, confirmed this incident, stating that four children aged between three and 10, and their grandmother, died in the fire.
She said that it is alleged that at about 20:30 an old woman (73) was sleeping with her five grandchildren when they heard the house burning.
“One child escaped through a window to seek assistance from neighbours.
“An investigation is underway and the cause of fire has not yet been established,” said Mdleleni.
