Kimberley - A 14-year-old girl who died in a house fire in Monument Heights on Friday evening, will be remembered as a hero after saving her two young sisters before giving her life while trying to make sure that her brother was safe.
An unattended heater is suspected of starting the fire at the house in Lorimer Street, where flowers had been placed at the gate on Sunday morning in memory of Grade 8 pupil, Thembi Ntipa.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Inncentia Nikani said that they were all still struggling to come to terms with the loss, but managed to find solace in the fact that Ntipa’s death had not been in vain.
The occupants of the house were settling in for the night and suspected load shedding when the electricity tripped. Nikani said that they only realised that the house was on fire when a tenant, living on the premises, saw smoke coming from the main house.
“The heater was in the first room of the house and we believe that this is where the fire broke out,” she said during an interview on Saturday. “Nobody was in the room and this gave the fire time to spread unnoticed.
“When the fire caused the power to trip, Kingston (the tenant) did not think much of it as he presumed it was load shedding. However, when he saw smoke coming from the house, he ran to the Premier’s house, across the street, to get help.”
Several windows were broken in order to allow the family to escape the flames, all except Thembi.
Before eventually collapsing in the house’s main passage, the 14-year-old girl ensured that both her sisters were safely out of the house. However, she turned around for a third time to look for her brother.
“Thembi handed her three-year-old sister through the window to her other sister, 12, and then went back into the house to look for her brother, 9.
“She must have been overcome by the smoke and collapsed in the passage. Her mother tried to pull her out, but Thembi was big for her age and too heavy for her mother to carry. Her brother had already managed to escape safely,” Nikani added.
“Thembi was so incredibly brave for doing what she did.
“She was a wonderful child and a star goalkeeper for both KJS and Girls’ High’s hockey sides. She was also in the provincial side and had a very bright future ahead of her. We are all going to miss her very much.”
Acting head of Kimberley Girls’ High and school hockey coach, Mike Matthews, said that he was shocked by the news.
“It was terrible to learn about the fire and the death of one of our learners,” he said on Sunday. “She was liked by teachers and classmates and was a very talented goalkeeper.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family at this difficult time. I have been in touch with them since the incident and the school will possibly look at holding a memorial service once I have met with them to discuss their wishes.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said the police are investigating the fire.
“An inquest docket has been opened following the death of a 14-year-old girl. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”
Members of the Lanar neighbourhood watch, which includes Albertynshof, New Park, Labram, Absa Park and Roylgen, were among the first on the scene and assisted firefighters in extinguishing the blaze.
“At around 11pm, someone broadcast that there was a fire near Kimberley Junior and we immediately made our way to the house to see how we could help,” said a member of the group, Hein Visagie.
“When we arrived, the fire department was already on the scene and we assisted them in their duties. This fire was a terrible tragedy and we would like to assist the family where possible.”
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