Byline: Kelebogile Masemola
08 August 2022
Tsietsi Ledwaba (32) was burned beyond recognition in a shack fire in Jeff’s Ville informal settlement, on Sunday morning, 07 August 2022.
According to Community Leader, Samuel Masilela, community members came out in numbers to fight the fierce fire at the shack at about 3.am on Sunday.
“I got a call from one of the community members, informing me about the fire at Mama Ledwaba’s shack.
Members suspected that there might be someone in the shack, they broke into the shack and checked if they might rescue the family but did not see any body as the fire was too wild.
It was when they managed to extinguish the fire completely, the member found the body of the 33 year old man known to be Tsietsi Ledwaba.
Community members are truly traumatised by their discovery, our community is in deep sorrow, and the family lost everything,” said Ledwaba.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Mother of the deceased, Asinah Ledwaba (50) told Ses’khona that she lost everything and her biggest loss being her son.
“My husband and I left for Limpopo on Friday, where we have a house in the rural areas.
I was shocked when I got a call from my neighbours letting me know that my shack has burnt to ashes, and worst of all my son was inside.
I lived in that shack with my husband, my son and my brother’s child, I have lost everything but the biggest loss being my son.
At first, the community thought my son might have slept somewhere else because they checked through the window and did not see anyone on his bed.
Losing everything is nothing compared to my sons life, my son suffered,” Ledwaba said with deep sorrow.
The spokesperson of Tshwane Emergency Services, Charles Mabaso said the incident was never reported to the Tshwane Emergency Services, as he could not find any records of a shack fire incident in Atteridgeville during the weekend.
“The incident was never reported to the Tshwane Emergency Services and as such we could not respond to it.
We however would like to urge residents to report fire incidents on our toll-free number 107, to enable us to respond appropriately and coordinate other forms of relief as may be required” said Mabaso.
