Nkululekweni Family Appeals For Help After Devastating Fire

A mother and her four children in Nkululekweni, Ward 16, are starting over after a fire destroyed their home and left them with no clothes, food, or furniture.

The fire occurred on Monday last week. The South African Communist Party in Mlungisi Cluster only learnt about it on Thursday while conducting a door-to-door campaign in the ward.

“We came across the story during our door to door campaign as the SACP because I am a councillor candidate for this ward, Ward 16,” said Lwazikazi Mpande. “We found that there was a home that was burnt and left with nothing.”

After finding the family, SACP members mobilised donations from community members and local businesses.

On Sunday morning at 11am, the party handed over the donations to the affected family. Items included children’s clothing for ages 1, 4, 10 and 14, shoes, groceries, and a kitchen cupboard.

“We decided as the SACP to intervene and try to help where we can,” Mpande said. “We were able to get donations from people and from local businesses. All those things we delivered to the home that was affected this morning.”

She said she hopes media coverage of the incident will encourage more people to come forward with donations.

“We have the hope that this story can help us get other people who can come forward and donate whatever they can,” said Mpande.

The family lost all their belongings in the blaze and are appealing for further assistance with household goods, bedding, and school necessities.

The mother Nosiphiwo Pikoko said the fire happened on Monday while she was not at home.

“The community tried to extinguish the fire but it was too strong for them. I lost everything in the fire,” she said.

Pikoko said she reported the incident to her sisters and in Mpendulo Public Primary School where she was assisted with uniform and corrugated iron to rebuild her shack.