Child playing with matches leaves family homeless

Mahamba – A Mahamba family has been left homeless after a child allegedly playing with matches accidentally started a fire that destroyed their home and all their belongings on Saturday.

According to a source close to the family, one of the four boys living at the homestead allegedly ignited the blaze after taking a box of matches from a windowsill, where the family had left it after lighting the morning fire. The source said the father was asleep in another house when neighbours alerted him that the family’s home was on fire.

“I was still asleep when I heard people shouting that the house was on fire,” the father said.

The source added that after the flames had been extinguished, the child was asked how the fire had started and reportedly apologised. A three-year-old sibling also allegedly identified one of the boys as the child who had started the fire.

Indvuna Yenkhundla Maseyisini Sishosonkhe Khumalo said the fire caused extensive damage, leaving the family without shelter.

“The roof sheets collapsed, the window panes were destroyed and the family lost many household belongings, including the children’s school uniforms,” Khumalo said.

He appealed to members of the public to assist the family with roofing sheets, timber, paint, window frames and door frames to help rebuild their home.

Khumalo added that the area’s Member of Parliament Nokuthula Dlamini had already assisted by purchasing school shoes for the affected children. Anyone wishing to assist the family can contact 7612 4041.