'Shack was just ball of fire'

2008-06-04 21:37

Oris Mnisi and Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

Bushbuckridge - A Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pastor burnt to death when he tried to rescue his four-year-old son from his blazing room.

The boy, Vukona Sithole, also died when a candle fell over, setting the room alight.

Pastor Jeffrey Sithole, 42, of Hokwe village near Thulamahashe had been temporarily sharing his son's room for the past four months in accordance with church traditions that ban a man from sleeping with his wife while she breast feeds her newborn baby for the first six months.

His weeping widow, Audrey Nxumalo, 25, said: "Our church culture doesn't allow me to share my bed with my husband until the baby is six months old."

The boy's room was located in the family's two-roomed spaza shop, made out corrugated iron sheets, just a few metres from his parent's room.

On Monday night, Sithole, who was exhausted after a trip to Moria, dozed off in his wife's room, but he had had left a candle burning in his son's room because of a power failure.

Heard loud explosion

About 23:00 the sound of the fire woke up Nxumalo.

"The sound of the fire disturbed me and I woke up my husband who quickly rushed out to find out what was going on, but he never came back," she said.

"I heard a loud explosion from the shack and when I looked out the window, I saw the whole shack engulfed in a huge ball of fire."

She ran out with her baby in her arms and there was another explosion from her son's shack.

"I screamed out for my husband and son, but they did not respond," she said.

She then screamed to neighbours for aid and the community helped douse the fire. Police and firefighters were also called to the scene.

Sithole's cousin, Willy, said it took almost 30 minutes to put out the blaze.

"But it was too late. The fire had already burnt my cousin and nephew to death. We collected their remains from the floor," said Sithole.

He accused ward councillor Zodwa Godi of failing to respond when the family tried to call her all night to alert her to the incident.

Instead, councillors from other wards came to their assistance and listened to their concerns about the lack of electricity.

Godi arrived only at 09:00 the next day and denied receiving any missed calls from the family.

Helped with tent and food

"I was not aware of this until a resident told me in the morning. I surely can't ignore people in pain," said Godi.

Bushbuckridge local municipality disaster management officer, Thulani Moripe, said the municipality's social development unit would provide the family with a tent, food, clothing and help with the funeral arrangements.

Constable Robert Makhubele of Mhala police said an inquest case had been opened.

- African Eye