'We went to hell and back'
2008-08-19 09:19
Elana Carstens
Johannesburg - Guests who were staying at the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge in the Pilanesberg when it burnt down early on Monday morning have told how they were woken up and rushed to escape the flames, some with just the clothes they were wearing.
"We went to hell and back," said Tanya van Buuren, 24.
Her father, Joe, 57, woke her and her Dutch boyfriend Ramey van Zetten, 25, when he smelled smoke in the unit they were staying in.
"My dad shouted so much that we thought there were lions in the house," she said.
A lodge representative told them the fire had been caused by a short circuit in the kitchen of the resort's conference centre.
'Flames everywhere'
Van Buuren recounted how the fire started at around 03:00, and how everything had burnt down by about 03:30. They went to the parking area just after 03:00 for safety.
"There were flames everywhere you looked. We had to watch as the whole place burnt down.
"Many people suffered huge losses. We could still grab our suitcases with some of our clothes. Our neighbours lost everything."
Kwa Maritane organised for the guests to be transferred to its sister resort, Bakubung.
"It was nice to eat breakfast and shower peacefully, without any drama," she added.
Fire 'the last straw'
For one of the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge timeshare owners, Monday's fire was the last straw, reported Alta Snyman.
"I started crying, it is now just too much for me," said Sandra Titan of Johannesburg.
"So many traumatic things have happened to our family this year. Nine family members have died and my husband and daughter were both in hospital twice. A friend of mine died due to an aneurysm and a month ago my car was hijacked.
"We were at Kwa Maritane because my husband, Pan, had a stroke six weeks ago. When people started beating on the door and yelled we should come out, I got a huge fright and immediately thought of the hijacking. The fire has just been too much for me."
One of the staff members gave her a tranquilliser.
Titan hurriedly grabbed her handbag, camera, cellphone and car keys. When Beeld visited the resort, she was still wearing slippers. The Titans were in one of the first chalets that caught fire.
'I only saw flames'
Joelene Flaum, also from Johannesburg, stood around with her 20-month-old son Gabriel. She was also still wearing slippers and he was in his pyjamas.
"I woke up from noises that sounded like the wind. At first I thought it was at the pool where they are building, but then I heard things falling down. When I looked out of the window, I only saw flames.
"We have only a cellphone and car keys. I don't even have a dry nappy for Gabriel."
They were set to go home on Monday.
- Beeld