The ten-roomed house was on fire over the weekend, immediately after the 'switching on' of electricity, said one of the family members, Patricia Mosia.

She told OFM News that when the fire began, all family members who stayed at the house were standing outside when they noticed the smoke coming out of the house. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Mosia said they accuse the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality of the incident.

She added that all important documents, including Identity Documents and grant cards, were burned. "We couldn't believe what was happening as it happened within a blink of an eye."

She said it's unfortunate that they were not insured. "The situation has left us homeless and with nothing because nothing was insured.  We've lost a house and furniture to the value of more than a million rand."

Currently, the family is calling upon the assistance of the municipality to help them rebuild the house. This is because the family owner is a pensioner and widower, who also is unemployed.

The electricity situation in the municipality is currently unstable. Sometimes the residents spend almost a day or two in the dark.

At times some residents accuse the municipality of not doing enough to ensure that Eskom is getting paid. However, it is believed that only a few households buy electricity while the rest are using it illegally.

The municipality is owing Eskom over R7 billion.

The municipal spokesperson, Thabo Kessah, said fire allegations came from the police. 

OFM News/Tumelo Khotha