A Joza family's preparations for a trip to church were cut short after an inferno erupted in the garage of their home, from which they were running a Bed and Breakfast on the morning of Friday 18 April.
A Joza family's preparations for a trip to church were cut short after an inferno erupted in the garage of their home, from which they were running a Bed and Breakfast on the morning of Friday 18 April.
Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said the fire erupted after a car burst into flames inside the garage.
Gladys Mginywa, who runs Limnandi Bed and Breakfast from the house, said she was disappointed with the municipality's fire department "because their fire engines delayed as they arrived more than half hour late".
However the municipality denied the allegations and blamed the family for not contacting them directly.
Ramokolo said, "The family first called councillor Nomhle Gaga and the police instead of our fire station.
"We received a call from police officer Welcome at 8.38am; the first truck left at 8.40am and arrived at the home at 8.49am. By 10.30am we permanently put out the fire".
Ramokolo said the fire department always responds immediately to emergency call-outs and urged people to call the fire station on 046 603 6000 in cases of fire.
Mginywa said councillor Gaga and the police were passing by when she stopped them for help.
Although the fire was put out before it could spread further on the property, Mginywa is aggrieved because the garage doubled as a storage facility.
"It's not only the car I'm worried about.There were also a lot of goods stacked inside like new furniture which costs thousands of Rands including new sofas, camping chairs, mattresses, building and hardware material," she said.
Mginywa said the guest house was able to receive guests on the same day.
The building is one of two double-storey structures overlooking other houses in the Joza suburb of Extension 5.
Each floor of the Bed and Breakfast has four bedrooms, a foyer, lounge, bathrooms and a dining room.
