02 Dec 2021

Ms Gosego Kanu vividly remembers the morning of September 26 as a turning point for herself and her two minor children, aged 14 and 11. 

What started off as a normal Sunday for the 47-year-old widow has since turned to be the worst day of her life, leaving more questions than answers.

“My late husband and I worked hard to build this house and never have I ever imagined I would lose it in this manner. 

I still remember that on that Sunday around 11 in the morning I was sitting outside with a neighbour when my 14-year-old daughter alerted us that the house was burning. 

At first I did not understand what she was talking about but nevertheless we rushed inside to find the house engulfed in smoke,” she sadly narrated the first of several incidents that have left her small family homeless.

Even though the fire had started from her daughter’s bedroom, they shortly realised that part of her bedroom was also burning. 

The nature and mystery surrounding the inferno did not only shock the family but the neighbours who had gathered to help put out the fire. 

However, she had to call an electrician to rule out any electrical faults around the three-bedroomed house.

Still reeling from shock, Ms Kanu and her children temporarily moved to her mother’s place on the other side of the ward in an effort to digest the ordeal and get emotional support from the extended family. 

Even then, she was hopeful that this was just an unfortunate incident, and she moved back to her yard while the children remained at their grandmother’s.

“Since only my daughter’s bedroomed was the one mostly affected, I decided to stay in my yard while the children were driven away by fear of the unknown. My conscience did not allow me to leave my house, so I will alternate sleeping in my bedroom and my son’s, but I would occasionally sense something was amiss inside the house.”

Two weeks later, when she thought she had managed to convince the children to move back home, she was woken by their screams as a strange sound of fire and dark smoke covered the house. 

This time, the fire started from her bedroom and everything inside was gutted down, except a wardrobe that stood intact at the corner. 

As usual, the neighbours assisted to put out the aggressive fire and sat with the family throughout the night in anticipation for any dramatic turn of events.

Even though she did not fully understand the cause of their misery, the self-employed mother remained optimistic that the mysterious fires would leave her family so they could re-build their home. 

She was hopeful that one day she would salvage the once modest house that she built with her late husband. 

However, she had started cleaning the dark walls and was preparing for celebrating the Christmas holidays at her partially burnt house when the fire struck again on November 19.

“I was at my mother’s place when the neighbours called to let me know that the house was on fire again, this time it was fiercer as it struck twice the same day. 

At this point I lost hope of ever recovering anything from this house, I had to admit that I have lost the battle against these ravaging fires,” she lamented with a weary and frail voice.

The last episode took everything down, including the roof and walls, and nothing could stop the blazing fire, including the fire fighters who did their best . 

The fire was so aggressive that even the following morning it was still burning amidst the water that was used in an attempt to extinguish it. 

Nonetheless, she is grateful to her neighbours, especially Ms Ikgopoleng Kgolo, who has been with the family throughout.

“The past two months have been a nightmare for the whole neighbourhood because we never know when the fire will strike again. We are left with more questions than answers but we continue to support Mma Kanu and her children,” says Ms Kgolo.

Additionally, she said as a concerned neighbour, she continued to seek help on the family’s behalf, and they were currently in talks with non-governmental organisations in an effort to secure a house for the family.”

The Moshupa sub-district senior assistant council secretary, Mr Mompati Pheko said they continued to give the family psycho-social support as well as assisting with basic welfare issues. 

So far, the family has received food parcels and clothing vouchers from the council.

“As per procedure, we have visited the family on different occasions and the council continues to offer basic welfare support, especially for the children who are of school-going age,” he says.

Even though Ms Kanu is still trying to piece up the puzzle following the ordeal, as a parent she has no time to digest and adjust to the new life. 

Besides emotionally supporting her children to deal with what has befallen the family, she has to run in between offices to replace the important documents that were lost in the last two months.

Her ultimate wish is to have a comfortable house which her small family can call home again. BOPA