Tragedy Strikes: Shack Fire Claims Four Young Lives in Heartbreaking Incident
“MUM, I won’t return home, I’m going to enjoy myself at grandmother’s place.”
These were Nkazimulo Mthabela’s last words to his mum, Sthembile Mthabela (37), on Friday, 27 June, when he spoke to her over the phone.
Little did Sthembile know this was the last time she heard her son’s voice.
The fire trapped four young victims inside.
Mfanelo Ntuli (4), Nkazimulo Mthabela (4), Emihle Shabalala (5), and Anele Shabalala (14) died in a blaze that engulfed a four-room shack in the evening in Villa Liza, Ekurhuleni, on Friday, 27 June.
Sthembile believes the last conversation she had with Nkazimulo was a sign of him saying his final goodbye.
Sthembile from Ladysmith in KZN said it was the first time her son went to visit his gogo at Villa Liza.
Khanyile Ntuli (36) said she’s saddened by the passing of her son Mfanelo.
“In the morning on that fateful day, as I was supposed to leave for work, he stopped me at the door and told me that I must give him polony from the fridge, and I did. He then asked me to buy him Chappies at the spaza shop when I returned home. That was the last time I saw him alive,” said Khanyile.
She said her son was an intelligent person who loved people.
“My son and the other kids suffered horrific deaths. I’m saddened by what happened.”
Mfanelo and Nkazimulo’s gogo Ncenceza Ntuli (70) said she left the kids with an elder as she was heading to the Eastern Cape for a funeral.
The gogo said residents tried to extinguish the fire with buckets full of water.
She said she suspects the fire was caused by a candle lit in the house due to load shedding.
“When I arrived, the shack had already been engulfed by fire, and the four kids, who were trapped inside, couldn’t be saved,” said Ncenceza.
The other family that stayed in the same yard are mourning the loss of the two kids, Anele Shabalala (14) and Emihle Shabalala (5).
Anele’s elder sister Ncamisile Shabalala said they are devastated and heartbroken.
“It’s hard for us to believe this. It’s like someone would tell us it’s only a dream. These kids were still young and innocent. We are left with unanswered questions as to why this happened,” said Ncamisile.
They said they are struggling to come to terms with what happened.
Emihle’s mum Nompilo Shabalala (23) said this has affected her greatly.
“I still can’t believe that my son is no more. What has happened will haunt me forever,” said Nompilo.
Sitheni Shabalala (46) said she is devastated because she lost both her kid, Anele, and her grandchild, Emihle.
“It will take us a long time to recover from what has happened,” said Sitheni.
She said both families lost their belongings, including clothes, pots, and food, in the fire.
Police spokeswoman Captain Neldah Sekgobela said an inquest docket has been opened for investigation.
