Durban: A Bakerville Gardens father who was killed in a fire at his home, has been hailed for his commitment to protecting his community.
Mogarasathavan Jay Kistasamy, 65, of Barvale Drive, was killed after a fire broke out in his home on Tuesday morning.
The father of three had partitioned his home so as to let some of the property out to tenants.
Kistasamy also lived on the bottom floor. He shared the area with tenants Sarah Naidoo, her husband, Marcus and their two children, a 3-month-old and 6-year-old.
Elton Appalsamy, lived alone on the top floor level.
Naidoo said the area had been without electricity since Monday morning.
“The electricity went off at 8am. We initially thought it was load shedding but after waiting four hours it didn’t return. I went to my landlord, who was outside at the time with the gardener, to ask him if he knew whether it was load shedding or a power outage. Recently we have had several power outages. He did not know and that was the last time we spoke.”
By that evening, there was still no electricity.
“My husband had to make a fire in our braai stand so that I could cook and boil water to make our baby’s milk.
“On Tuesday morning we woke up around 4.45am to make the baby’s milk and for my husband to get ready for work. The power still had not returned. It was during this time we heard some banging sounds and assumed it was the other tenant.
“A few minutes later I heard someone shouting outside. When I looked through my bedroom window it was one of the local guys. He was shouting that there was a fire and pointed to the area my landlord lived in. I ran outside to check and all I saw was flames.”
Naidoo said she screamed for Kistasamy but there was no response.
“By then more neighbours arrived and I raced back to get my husband and children. We all ran to the road as we feared that the fire would spread. But, by then, someone had called the fire department and they arrived.”
Appalsamy said he heard what sounded like fire crackers.
“At first, I did not think anything of it, but then when I heard Sarah screaming, I just grabbed my ID, wallets, keys and laptop and ran out to the road.
“It is devastating to know our landlord died. He was a wonderful person who was always willing to help.”
Sachin Kistasamy, Mogarasathavan’s son, said they were alerted by the tenants about the fire.
“When we arrived, the firefighters were already putting out the fire. We are not sure what was the cause but we want answers. My dad was a great man who was very loving and caring and well liked in the community and all those that knew him.
“We would speak often on the phone and would visit as often as possible but, due to Covid, not as often as we would have liked. However, we often brought him home-cooked meals because of the power outages in the area.”
Rahul Bantho, the chairman of the Barvale Crime Watch Association, said Kistasamy played an active role in combating crime in the area.
“Despite still recovering from a stroke, Jay would be out on patrol in the evenings and almost every day. During the recent unrest, he was at the forefront manning the entrances and roads over those four days.
“He was a man with a big heart as well. Last year, when he was not well and was not able to patrol, he actually offered the use of his car. He was very determined to keep our community safe.”
Bantho said their last interaction was at their association meeting on Sunday.
“There is a vacant piece of land across from his home that we use for our meetings. He was always one the first people to arrive. We always joked and laughed together. He was always jovial and a pleasure to be with. Our patrols will not be the same,’ he said.
Jay Kanniappen, the division commander at the eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services Unit- Northern Region said two teams, one from Durban North and one Umhlanga attended the call-out at around 5am.
“When the team arrived, there was smoke emanating out the windows. We were informed that one person was not accounted for. The team continued to fight the fire while a search and rescue team went into the home. They found an elderly man in the passageway very close to the door entrance. He was overcome with smoke.
“The team proceeded to the other rooms, one of which was completely engulfed, while a second room was partially burnt. The entire dwelling, however, was filled with smoke.”
Kanniappen said they suspected a candle started the fire.
“However, the matter is now under police investigation.”
Colonel Thembeka Mbele, a provincial police spokesperson said an inquest docket was being investigated.
“It is alleged that a house with a 65-year-old man caught fire. The victim was certified dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.”
Msawakhe Mayisela, an eThekwini Municipality spokesperson said the power outage, which affected a portion of the Newlands area, was caused by four distant cable faults.
“A team of fault-men was dispatched and worked throughout the night. Power was restored on Tuesday morning at 5am.
“Cable faults in their nature can never be prepared for making it impossible to notify residents before an outage occurs. We continue to urge residents to report power outages when they happen so teams can be dispatched,” he said.
The Post