Neighbours of the seven family members who died in a shack fire at Wells Estate in Port Elizabeth early Wednesday morning, spoke of their frantic efforts to extinguish the raging fire using just buckets of water.
Long-time neighbour of the Jamane family, Nomthandazo Sithonga, said that they were woken up at 3am on Wednesday morning by a commotion outside.
She told Algoa FM News that she and her husband rushed outside when they saw the shack of 62-year-old Nofomele Jamane, on fire.
Sithonga said her husband tried to enter the house to help the family but she said the "fire was out of control."
Jamane's 15-year-old grand-daughter, who also lives in Tshazimpunzi Street, said other family members were woken up by local residents and when they arrived "her grandmother's house was still on fire."
Jamane's neighbourhood friend, Phumla Trongo, also spoke of her anguish when she heard the news."
"My twin brother woke me up in the morning and told me there is a fire at Mamtshawe's house( 62 year old's Victim's clan name),I saw two fire brigades outside the house but the fire was already put out. Motherwell Councillor, called us inside the house then told Mamtshawe's son that all 7 people had died including Mamtshawe,her daughter and her grand children.
Trongo added, that Mamtshawe was well known in the community and only good things were spoken of her.
Ironically, the family was living in the shack in the back yard of their RDP house which is still under construction.
Police have identied the victims as:
62-year-old Nofomele Jamane, 25-year-old Siphokazi Jamane, 19-year-old Sive Jamane and four children, Sanele (7), Abongile (6), Kwakhanya (3yrs and the only male) and 10-month old Endinako Jamane.
According to police,the exact cause of the fire is unknown, and had rain severely hampered the process of establishing the cause.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
Photo (left) all that is left of the Jamane's house
(Right) Shocked community members mill in the street outside the Jamane house.
