Thabile Kweyama

A two room shack burnt down on Saturday night in Umlazi V section, South of Durban when a fire ripped through the informal settlement.

“My children and I went to a relative’s house for the weekend. I received a phone call from a neighbour saying that my shack was burning down,” said Philisiwe Dlamini.

Philisiwe said she immediately went back to her shack to see how bad things were. She added that when she arrived everything had been destroyed from inside her shack.

“Everything in the house burnt down including important documents such as identity documents, my children’s school books and uniforms and the house furniture,” she said.

Philisiwe’s neighbour, Mabongi said the fire started around 9: 30 pm which was when she could smell the smoke coming from outside and went to check at her window. Mabongi added that at her window she saw a male neighbour leaving Philisiwe’s shack with a 2 liter which she suspected was paraffin.

Philisiwe said two days before the shack burnt down she had a fight with another neighbour about illegal dumping of waste near her house. She added that the neighbour had a motive in burning her shack as for months they have not been getting along and constantly had fights about community issues.

Ward committee member Nqobile Mgilane said it is devastating that an argument about community issues has led to a family being homeless. “The issue could have been resolved without using violence or destroying people’s property,” said Mgilane.

Philisiwe said she opened a case at the police station and she is currently living at her relative’s house.

Picture: poutmovement.com