An acrid smell of smoke and the chilling silence of loss filled the air in Ekenville on Sunday morning. A fire, a blaze that erupted with the ferocity of a vengeful spirit, had ripped through the heart of this close-knit community, leaving behind a trail of devastation and a profound sense of grief. At the epicentre of this tragedy was the charred remains of a shack, a testament to the brutal power of the flames, and within it, the lifeless body of a young woman, Nomthandazo Dawodi, just days away from welcoming her first child into the world.
The fire, which erupted late on Saturday night, had consumed not just Ms. Dawodi's humble abode, but also the dreams and aspirations of a community already struggling to survive on the margins of society. The flames had spread with alarming speed, engulfing neighbouring shacks and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. As the sun rose, casting a cruel light on the scene, the true extent of the devastation became all too clear. Over 270 shacks, housing hundreds of families, had been reduced to ash and rubble, leaving 89 children and 342 adults without a roof over their heads.
"It's a tragedy of unimaginable proportions," said Ms. Ntombozuko Daniso, a member of the Ekenville Community Committee, her voice choked with emotion. "We're still trying to comprehend the scale of the loss. People have lost everything – their homes, their possessions, their livelihoods. Some are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs."
The fire, which is currently under investigation by Greenwood Park police, has sparked a wave of shock and disbelief throughout the community. The cause of the blaze remains unknown, but suspicions of foul play have begun to circulate, fuelled by the tragic circumstances surrounding Ms. Dawodi's death.
"It's a terrible thing that has happened," said Ms. Nonhlanhla Mgwaba, a close friend of the deceased. "Nomthandazo was a good woman, a loving mother-to-be. She was eight months pregnant and was due to give birth any day. She was so excited about becoming a mother."
Ms. Mgwaba, whose own shack was miraculously spared from the flames, described Ms. Dawodi as a quiet and gentle soul, who was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. "She was a pillar of strength in our community," she said, her voice trembling with grief.
"What's disturbing is that we were cooking in my shack, and she was only sleeping in hers. There was no stove in her shack, but the fire started there. The way she was, it was as if she knew something was going to happen. She didn't even eat, and she was quiet, unlike her usual self. She even asked to rest because she was tired," Ms. Mgwaba said, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and bewilderment.
The circumstances surrounding Ms. Dawodi's death have left her partner, Mr. Thulani Mhlongo, deeply distraught and questioning the events that led to her tragic demise. The couple, who had been together for three years and worked side-by-side, were preparing for the arrival of their first child.
"The electricity wasn't off, and the electrical wires weren't in a state that could have caused a fire. She was using a candle for light because she wasn't cooking in her shack. It's strange that the shack's door couldn't be opened, as it was an old door that anyone could have easily broken open. This makes me suspect that someone started the fire," Mr. Mhlongo said, his voice heavy with suspicion.
He recalled the last time he saw Ms. Dawodi, just hours before the fire engulfed their lives. "She was in a good mood, and she even asked me if anything was bothering me. She told me that some people had visited her, and she had prayed. I was comforted by this, but now I wonder what she meant, given the tragic turn of events. We were so excited about becoming parents. The doctors had confirmed that we were expecting a baby boy."
The fire has left a gaping hole in the hearts of the Ekenville community. As they grapple with the loss of their neighbour, friend, and mother-to-be, they are also facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes. The community committee, along with local authorities, are working tirelessly to provide immediate relief to the affected families, offering temporary shelter, food, and clothing. However, the road to recovery will be long and arduous.
