By Libuseng Nyaka
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VILJOENSKROON – A Welkom family is living in fear after a series of mysterious fires scotched its property at three different locations in June.
The hapless family has moved from house to house and even sought refuge in a community hall to escape the stalking fires to no avail.
Albert Golosa, his wife Makgala and five children are now living in a community hall after their second house was engulfed by fire this week.
All the furniture including beds, lounge suits and kitchen appliances were destroyed in the fires.
A dumbfounded Golosa said: “We are living in fear because we do not know the cause of the fire, and why is it persistently following us burning each house we move into.”
The freakish fires have burned Golosa’s two four-roomed houses and a community hall that they are currently staying in.
“The fires target beds – starting from the side of the pillows. The first fire attack which occurred on June 6 did not scare us. We thought maybe children had caused it. It burned the kitchen and our bedroom and all the furniture. The second fire attack in the second four-roomed house started around 4 pm and burned the lounge suits and other furniture.
“I had just arrived from the fields where I worked when I heard a big bang inside the house followed by thick smoke. I rushed into the burning house but the fire had already spread from the sitting room to other rooms; sofas and beds had been burned to ashes. Neighbours came to our rescue but could not do anything as the blaze was too strong,” Golosa said.
The third fire attack occurred at the community hall, but luckily they have fire extinguishers and some neighbours were also quick to react saving all borrowed and donated blankets and furniture.
Golosa’s employer Jaap Steyn, owner of Galastam Maize farm – scene of the first fire, did not want to speculate on the cause of fires.
“I do not know what could have happened; there is no electricity or anything which could cause fire. It is a mystery. But it is surprising that a bed that I have lent them did not burn during another attack at the community hall. When I gave them, I said it will not burn because it was given out of love,” he said.
Elizabeth Maine, a neighbour suspects the fire was caused by one of their neighbours.
“It is a mystery, but no one can come here and bewitch us, it must be someone around us who is causing this to us. We are six families that live here under this farm. .
Besides the community donations of blankets and food, the Mayor of Moqhaka Mantebo Mokgosi organised prayers and a cleaning ceremony by traditional healers in an effort to expel whatever is causing the fires.
