A Bloemfontein-based school teacher, Bulelwa Faith Mbange, explained to OFM News that she got a call from her neighbours while at work, informing her that her house is on fire. This after she went to work whilst the area in which she resides was hit by load-shedding. 

Mbange rushed home after the call and found neighbours trying to extinguish the fire after breaking down the kitchen door. 

She added her neighbour’s child told her she saw smoke coming from her home shortly after hearing an explosion in the house. She called for help. She said the Fire Department arrived and managed to extinguish the fire. Mabange said she lost her clothes, bed, and drawers in the fire. The ceiling also collapsed.

“I wish I could be assisted so that my house can be in a better state. Other things I will try to replace myself. I don’t know where I am going to sleep and don’t really know how I am going to cope with all that happened here. I don’t know where to even begin because, firstly, I don’t even have a bed to sleep on. All my things have been gutted by the fire. I now have to get a new meter box, the house needs to be rewired and I don’t know how I will be able to afford all of this,” she said.

Mbange further added that representatives of the Fire Department said they will send someone to come and assess the area, draw up a report, and then she will have to take the report to Centlec.

OFM News