A Manenberg family has been left homeless after a fire destroyed their council home on Tuesday night.
Residents in Red River Walk rushed to help the family of ouma Magdalene Booysen, 63, as they escaped the blaze with only the clothes on their backs.
Her son-in-law, Shakeel Thomas, 43, says his children were lucky to escape as the flames entered through the front door.
“It was just after 9pm and I went to get paint to paint the house the next day,” he says.
“Me and my family live in the Wendy house in front, and my children were inside the house watching TV with their granny when the fire started in the Wendy house in front.
“The neighbour shouted there was a fire and they all started running. My daughter opened the door and the flames were already coming in so she had to close it and run out the back.”
BURNING: Residents try to put out the fire at Manenberg house
Shakeel says he got a skrik when he returned to see the house ablaze.
“The neighbours jumped on the roof with buckets of water but they couldn’t save anything,” he says.
“All the children are safe and I just thank God none of them were hurt.”
City Fire and Rescue services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, says they received the call for help at 9.19pm and 12 firefighters were dispatched.
“The fire was extinguished at 10.29pm. A total of 13 people were displaced and the cause has not yet been determined.”
He says the Booysen home and Wendy house were completely destroyed while two neighbouring properties were partially damaged.
DAMAGE: Homes affected in Red River Walk.
Son James, 43, whose Wendy house was partially damaged, says he is worried about the safety of his family after large cracks could be seen in the ceiling of the house.
“We don’t know if the house is safe so they went to sleep by my aunty last night. We think it was an electrical fire because afterwards the whole street was left without electricity.”
Yesterday the family was seen cleaning up the debris but said they were not sure where they would sleep or what they would eat.
Anyone who would like to help can call James on 060 783 5220.
Family's fire escape. Video supplied
monique.duval@inl.co.za