by Zainul Dawood ans Samkelo Mtshali
Durban - There were scenes of despair at a Durban children’s home early on Thursday morning, after eight boys died and several were injured in a blaze.
The boys, aged 8 to 21, had been asleep in a cottage at the Lakehaven Child and Youth Care Centre in Sea Cow Lake when the fire broke out after 1am.
Some of the children, including youngsters who do not have families to go home to during the holidays, were said to have died in their beds.
A caregiver who was in the cottage managed to get 10 boys to safety.
Ish Prahladh, of Iron Force security, which guards the premises, said they were able to save two caregivers and two children.
“We tried to put the blaze out ourselves. We saved four lives on scene before the firefighters arrived,” he said.
Briefing the media on Thursday morning, Shehnaaz Gabru, executive director of Child Welfare Durban & District, said there had been 18 children in the cottage at the time. She confirmed 10 had been saved.
She said a caregiver had made a routine check at 1.15am to see if the children were asleep. “At 1.40am a caregiver noted that there was a fire. Evacuation procedures were done,” she said.
A weeping Gabru said three children and a caregiver were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, cuts and bruises. They were later discharged.
She explained the Lakehaven centre was for orphaned and abused children and there were also children there from Zamani centre for former street children.
According to a social worker, the boys had been looking forward to starting the third term at school on Monday. Children at the home normally go out to families for the holiday, but this was not the case for these children.
According to KZN Department of Social Development spokesman, Ncumisa Ndelu, there were 38 children staying at the centre’s five housing units on Wednesday night.
Ndelu said they were yet to check the files of the affected children to establish which grades they were in and how they could be helped with their studies.
Staff and social workers arriving at the orphanage on Thursday morning were visibly shocked.
Several women walked on to the property weeping uncontrollably as social workers began arriving to counsel the survivors at the home, a project of Child Welfare Durban & District.
Dr Macken Maistry, the deputy principal of a nearby school, rushed to the scene to check if any of the children from the school had died.
The mortuary unit arrived mid-morning to remove the bodies.
Earlier a private security guard prevented the media from entering the premises at the main entrance, but a building with a burnt roof could be seen from the gate.
Durban fire department acting northern region commander, Narend Dirjalal, said it took about half an hour to extinguish the fire and confirmed that in their search of the premises they found eight bodies burnt beyond recognition.
“At this stage we are unable to tell the cause of the fire as an investigation by our fire safety specialists is under way. Until a report comes in from them we cannot comment any further,” said Dirjalal.
He said fire safety specialists were already on the scene and the report was expected soon.
Department divisional commander, north, Bheki Hadebe, said it had been the worst moment in his 22-year career as a fireman.
The father-of-three said when firefighters arrived the cottage was ablaze and the roof collapsing.
“We were informed that there could be eight children inside. It was something no one wished for. We are devastated by the incident.”
eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo accompanied by officials from various departments visited the centre this morning and pledged the city’s help.
“We will give our support to families. We will work with the centre to bury the loved ones in a dignified manner,” he said.
Department of Labour KZN spokesman, Lungelo Mkamba, said an inspector had been sent to the scene.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane, described the incident as tragic. He said the children had been asleep when the fire broke out.
He said Newlands East police were investigating.
The home, in Centre Road, was established 58 years ago to cater for the needs of 60 children.
It caters for those who have been abused, neglected or abandoned.
They are placed there by court order.
Child Welfare has invited the public to spend 67 minutes at any one of its facilities on Monday, which is Mandela Day.