Byline: Andani Matumba

02 December 2022

A ten years old learner from Zamokuhle Primary School in eMbalenhle Ext 1 was left traumatized after the lovers feud between her father and the lady he was in a love relationship with when the female lover allegedly burned the house.

The learner who is currently in grade 4 lost her school books, stationary and school uniform as they were completely destroyed by the fire just before the commencement of exams on 29 October 2022.

It is alleged that during the fateful day when the house was burned there was a grade 12 learner who was preparing for the exams inside the house at Ext 14 eMbalenhle when the ex lover set the house on fire.

It is further alleged that after burning the house, the ex-lover went to the owner of house and told him that the house was burning.

Two younger brothers of the victims of the victim were also adversely affected by the fire since they lost all their clothes, school books and school uniform in the fire.

Zinhle Nqcobo who is the mother of the child said that her baby-daddy’s ex-lover took her daughter without permission and hid her at her initiator’s (gobela) at Ext 18.

The child was only found after community members attacked perpetrator who then pointed out to the police where she was hiding the child.

“The police went and recovered my child who was unharmed from the initiators place,” she added.

A case of arson was opened at eMbalenhle Police Station by the owner of the house but surprisingly in the statement given to the police, the complainant did not mention that the house was burned by the ex-lover.

He merely mentioned that the ex-lover was the one who came and informed him about the burning house, therefore no arrest has been made till to date.

In an interview with Seskhona newspaper, one of the educators said that it was unfortunate that the relationship between two people ended at the expense of a child.

“The sad part is the parents of the will have to pay for the books which were destroyed in the fire because they were not destroyed by a natural disaster,” said the principal.

One of the teachers in the lower classes (grade 1-4) made an initiative of getting the learner school uniform, shoes and a jersey.
Although the parents still have to pay for the books, the educators as a collective could not let that affect the child therefore school gave books to the learners so that she can be able to pray for her exams.

“We have also made arrangements that she gets school books so that her loss should not affect her studies,” said the educator.

The petite learner said that she appreciates the help she received from her teachers as she received some school uniform.
Her class teacher said the little girl still needed school tracksuits for cold days, more pairs of socks, school shoes and school shirts.
(For donations kindly contact Zinhle Nqcobo on 072 030 1983)