BY REGINALD KANYANE
DEELPAN- North West Province, Supra Mahumapelo visited the bereaved family in Deelpan after a razing fire killed seven family members on Sunday. The family members were asleep when their shack caught fire.
Mahumapelo was accompanied by MEC for social development; Fenny Gaolaolwe.
A three year-old toddler has become the latest victim to succumb to injuries suffered after six other family members died. The toddler died on Tuesday at Tshepong Hospital where he had been admitted since Sunday.
THE South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and the ANC in North West sent their heartfelt condolences to the Mogale family.
Sanco provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe described the deaths as shocking and heart-rending incident. He pleaded with local government and human settlements department to assist in building houses and eradicate informal settlements across the country.
“The informal settlement eradication and rural electrification programmes have to be accelerated to reduce such harrowing incidents. So we urge the local government and human settlements department to speed-up the process of eradicating informal settlements. Many lives continued to be lost because of poor living conditions our people found themselves in. We hope proper houses could reduce the atrocity.
“Many people who live in informal settlements use candle because their shacks are not electrified. We also urge relevant authorities to educate people living in informal settlements how to deal with fire. The residents in these areas need to be endorsed with firefighting training skills. We believe that could help while waiting for assistance from emergency services,” he said.
Michael Mogale‚ 23‚ Mokatse Mogale‚ 22‚ Shepang Mogale‚10‚ and their two cousins‚ Bokamoso Mogale‚ 8‚ and Lerato Mogale, 5‚ died in the fire while asleep after their shack caught fire in the early hours of Sunday. A three year–old toddler‚ Olebogeng Mogale‚ was admitted at Gelukspan hospital but later died.
“We are distraught by the heartbreaking losses. We wish to convey our condolences to the Mogale family, relatives, friends as well as the entire Deelpan community. No one deserves to die such frightful and painful deaths,” Sebegoe said.
The bereaved family spokesperson, Florence Ntshangisa said the loss was painful.
“We are really dejected after losing family members in this manner. We are grieving and hope that we could ever find closure to the matter,” she said.
North West premier Supra Mahumapelo had also sent his heartfelt condolences to the family.
He said the provincial government’s thoughts were with the Mogale family during this difficult time.
“May they be comforted as they come to terms with this tragic loss. We can confirm that the Provincial Disaster Management Teams from Local Government and Human Settlements Department and Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality visited the scene to make an assessment in order to intervene as the fire has completely destroyed the shack and its contents.
“Furthermore, MEC for social development visited the bereaved family on Wednesday to see if any assistance could be needed. Leader of Government Business, MEC Manketsi Tlhape and Ngaka Modiri Molema district mayor, Justice Makolomakwe also visited the family this week,” Mahumapelo said.
-TDN
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