Three people died in a shack fire in Pelindaba last week.
ANOTHER Ritchie resident died during the early hours of Friday morning after his shack caught alight at around 1.20am, shortly after another shack fire in Pelindaba claimed the lives of three family members.
Community members stated that Klaas Everson, from Riemvasmaak, suffered burn injuries.
“His nose was bleeding and people risked their lives trying to rescue him from the flames. On Saturday morning we were informed that the doctors tried everything possible but were unable to save him as he suffered critical injuries. His skin was peeling off his body when the ambulance arrived, while the fire brigade only arrived at around 4am.”
A young mother, Hannalie van Wyk, 26, and her two children – Alexandra, 7, and “Vroutjie”, 4, Fluks – also died after they were trapped inside their shanty that caught fire in Pelindaba, Ritchie on September 3.
Neighbours managed to rescue four-year-old “Vroutjie” from the burning shack, however, she died in hospital on September 4.
A community member, Klaas Sekgabo, said that a memorial service would be held on Thursday for the Van Wyk and Fluks family members.
“The family is preparing the funeral for this weekend but is struggling to raise enough funds.”
He stated that they had launched a neighbourhood watch that would be named Alexandria, in honour of the family.
“The group will conduct regular patrols to combat crime and prevent any more lives from being lost in the future.”
Sekgabo added that the neighbour who rescued “Vroutjie” from the burning shanty was extremely traumatised and needed counselling.
ANC chief whip Perdy van Wyk said that he would accompany Sol Plaatje executive mayor Patrick Mabilo and the Speaker, Ingrid Koopman, who would attend the memorial service in Pelindaba on Thursday.
“We will meet with the family to see how we can assist them and are awaiting a report from the councillor regarding the incident. The father is traumatised and does not want to return to the shanty where his family died. He is in a stable condition in hospital.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Sello Matsie refuted claims that emergency services responded late to the call-outs.
“The control centre received the first call at 12.30am on September 3 and the fire brigade departed at 12.46am. They arrived in Pelindaba at 12.51am. The second call was logged in at 1.32am. The fire brigade was dispatched to attend to the fire in Riemvasmaak at 1.32am and arrived at 1.46am on the scene.”
Matsie indicated that all calls were recorded and monitored on a 24-hour basis, while.all fire engines were tracked.
“Emergency staff are expected to be on call at all times and are trained to respond to any emergency in a short space of time.”
Matsie advised community members to call the relevant authorities in an emergency.
“Often when a fire breaks out, residents will first call the police to the scene, instead of the fire department and this may result in a delay in the response time. It is unfortunate that lives were lost and we extend our condolences.”
He added that water problems were experienced in Ritchie as a result of vandalism and the theft of cables at the water plant.
