Cape Town - Busiswe Jack was distraught after a fire destroyed her home in Ezinkomeni informal settlement in Lwandle, Strand.
The matriculant’s home was among more than 30 dwellings gutted in the blaze on Sunday night. With mock exams looming, the 20-year-old is at a loss over what to do.
Busisiwe is in her final year at Simanyene Secondary School.
She had just finished ironing her school uniform and preparing for bed when she heard an explosion, followed by panicked screams.
She grabbed her younger siblings and ran out, seeing flames “climbing, fanned by strong winds”.
“I lost everything - my books and school uniform. I was busy studying for my trial exams and now all my notes are gone. I’m so stressed. I did not go to school today, even though I know I will have to start from scratch.
“I don’t know if I will cope. The trial is around the corner. I’ve lost hope.
“I don’t know if I will make it at the end of the year.”
Mzobanzi Mtandeki, 25, said he had parked his car when he heard people screaming.
“I managed to push the car to the main road, and then ran back in an attempt to save my stuff. The flames were very high. I never saw green fire in my life,” he said.
“I could not take anything out, even my identity book is gone. Fortunately, I always carry my driver’s licence in my wallet.”
Twenty-seven-year-old resident, Baxolele Mbonjeni, said he could not go to work on Monday as he needed to rebuild his home. All he had left was the clothes on his back.
Ward councillor Jongidumo Justice Maxhege said: “If the City of Cape Town had listened to people’s calls to be relocated to Makhaza, everything would have been fine. There would not have been a fire, and people’s belongings would have been safe.”
City Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Liezl Moody said the fire started on Sunday at 9pm.
“Thirty-two structures were destroyed and 68 people displaced. There were no injuries and no fatalities.”
The cause of fire has still to be determined.
Disaster Risk Management spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said some residents opted to stay with family and friends and the department of Human Settlements was providing residents with fire kits.
Various organisations had also aided the community, serving meals and delivering blankets, she said.
Cape Argus