Man dies in fire at Ha-Ravele

Community members from Ha-Ravele village in the Sinthumule area are still reeling after an incident where the Ramuthivheli family’s house burnt down. A man died during Friday night’s ordeal and a car was also destroyed.

According to the owner of the house, Mr Ndifelani Ramuthivheli, the incident happened at around 23:00 on Friday night. When he was interviewed on Tuesday, the family members were still in shock and not certain as to what exactly had caused the tragedy. Ramuthivheli, a taxi driver by trade, said that his family should consider themselves lucky to have escaped the flames with no burn wounds.

The incident, however, claimed the life of a man who apparently tried to help them save the car that was parked in the garage. He was identified as Paul Nemaorani of Mapate village. From what could be established, he tried to assist in getting the car out of the burning building but became trapped in the flames.

According to Ramuthivheli, he only became aware of the situation when he heard noises and the sound of glass breaking. “I heard noises coming from another room. I rushed there and found that there was a lot of smoke and the house was on fire,” he said. “We tried to extinguish the fire while at the same time trying to call the police and firefighters, but the fire was very fierce,” he said.

Ramuthivheli said that he remembered shouting for help in the hope that more people could come to assist and perhaps salvage some of their belongings. “But we were too late, and almost everything in the house was destroyed,” he said.

People from the village gathered at the homestead, but could do nothing. When the firefighters arrived at the scene, they doused the flames.

Provisional estimates set the loss at more than R500 000. The fire also seriously damaged the roof and the walls of all seven rooms. The identity documents of the five children, books, computers, furniture, groceries and other items were burnt to ashes. A plea was made to community members and the business sector to assist the family with food, clothes, school uniforms and books.

“The Ramuthivheli family want to repair the house, but it seems as if it will be difficult,” said a community member, Mr Richardt Mubvafhi. He said that it was sad that the family had to lose all their prized possessions in these trying economic times and with no one working in the family. “It will be very hard for them, as they had accumulated their things over many years and it will be difficult for them to buy the goods again. They will need community support.”

Tshilwavhusiku police spokesperson Serg Thilivhali Malowa said the fire was reported at around 23:00.  She confirmed that a man had died inside the house while trying to help save the car.

Date:15 August 2016

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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