All that’s left… – Grocott's Mail

A local councillor has warned the community to be extra cautious after a fire ruined a family's home on the eve of the festive season.

It's going to be a bleak Christmas for the Swartz family of Hooggenoeg, who lost most of their possessions in a fire on Wednesday afternoon. Rudolph Swartz, who lives in a shack behind his brother's RDP house, said he was watching TV when one of the children who'd been playing outside ran in to warn him that there was a fire.

Neighbour Hendrick Jantjies said he'd heard children screaming outside. “I saw smoke coming out of the roof of the house. I tried to put out the flames and to stop the fire from spreading to other houses,” he said.

While owner Harvey Swartz was shattered at losing most of his possessions, he was relieved that he and his family were safe. Harvey and his girlfriend, Lene Davis, were at work and their 7-year-old son was still at school.

“All contents of the house burnt to ashes – nothing survived," said the visibly shaken Harvey said. "My television, CD player, clothes, and furniture all burnt to ashes."

When Grocott's Mail visited the house, two fire engines were at the scene, still putting out the fire, which appeared to have started where the main house was attached to the shack.

Ward councillor Marcelle Booysen was also there, and told Grocott's Mail that she would make sure the family received food parcels. She made a plea to the community to try to help them get their lives back on track before Christmas.

When Grocott's Mail spoke to her again yesterday, she said the family had already received 12 blankets and six mattresses from the Makana Fire Department. She said she would approach the municipality's housing section to have the extent of the damage assessed.

Booysen also urged members of the community to be particularly vigilant as the festive season approached. “They should be careful during this time because a lot of disasters of this nature take place during this time of the year,” she said.

For the time being, the homeless Swartz family is staying with relatives. Anyone wishing to help the family Swartz family can contact Booysen at 072 777 2665 or 071 685 1536.