A SINGLE mother of four is still struggling to pick up the pieces after her home was gutted by fire on Monday, 12 June in Malvern, Joburg.
The fire destroyed everything, leaving the roof collapsed and the mum losing istoko for her business.
Nozuko Manyisa told Daily Sun that life has been hard since losing everything in the fire.
She said when the house caught fire, she had gone to the shops, leaving her 21-year-old daughter sleeping in the house.
"When I was still at the shops, she called to inform me that the house was on fire. She said the fire started in the lounge. We are not sure what happened but the whole house burnt," said Nozuko.
She said they suspect the stove which was in the lounge triggered the fire.
She told Daily Dun that she is self employed and survives on selling fast food from her house.
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"I used to sell food to feed my children and myself," she said.
The mum is pleading with the community to help her rebuild her house so she could get back on her feet and start her business again and take care of her children.
"I can't fix the house on my own. I don't have money. My heart is heavy. I am not okay, even my children are traumatised but I have to be strong for them. I'm the only parent they have," she added.
Her daughter, Vuyolwethu Manyisa, said she was devastated and hoped that they'd get help to rebuild their home.
EMS spokeswoman Nana Radebe-Kgiba said: "The cause of the fire could not be determined because of the extent of the fire. It was bad."
According to EMS Winter Safety Campaign Leaflet, residents can prepare for an emergency by always keeping a bucket of sand nearby so one can put out a fire before it becomes worse.
Residents are also encouraged to visit one of the EMS Besafe Centres around the City of Joburg regions.
