SHE FASTED for the whole day, then she went to the mountain to pray for salvation from her problems – but her prayers were in vain.
While she was on the mountain, her one-roomed shack and everything she owned was burnt to the ground.
“THE DEVIL HAS LEFT ME WITH NOTHING,” SAID THE SHATTERED WOMAN.
Mpumelelo Ndlovu (31), a member of the Nations 12 Apostle Nazareth Church in Zion, from Pienaarspoort in Mamelodi East, Tshwane lost her shack to fire on Friday, 20 August.
Mpumelelo told Daily Sun that losing her one-roomed shack and all her belongings was the worst thing to ever happen to her.
She said when she climbed the mountain that morning she was feeling strong but when she heard of the fire she was suddenly weak.
“I prayed a lot on the mountain to overcome problems in my life but the devil was waiting at the door to stop my happiness,” she said.
According to Mpumelelo there was no electric light or fire in her house and what really burnt her shack was Satan.
The mother of a one-year-old said she made a living out of sewing clothes but the fire has left her even more devastated as her overlocker sewing machine and the clothes she was sewing were left in ashes.
Mpumelelo said she has also lost her wardrobe, bed and her documents including her ID.
“I had to break the fast after receiving the sad news that my shack was burning.
“It’s difficult to pray while heartbroken,” said Mpumelelo.
“When I arrived, the neighbours were there trying to stop the fire but it was too strong for them to stop it.”
The sad woman said she was sleeping at her neighbours’ place as she was not working and she didn’t have money to start a new life.
Mpumelelo was asking for any kind of donation to start her life again.
Community leader Fance Malefo (52) said: “We tried to stop the fire but it was too strong for us. We are appealing for help to the woman because she is left with nothing.
“We need any kind of donations.”
City of Tshwane Emergency Services spokesman Deputy Chief Charles Mabaso said the fire was never reported to them.
“Reporting an incident to the Tshwane Emergency Services is free on our toll free 107 emergency number,” he said.
“Reporting a fire ensures that professional assistance is activated.”
Firefighters put out fires but may also assist in activating disaster management.
Upon conducting an assessment, disaster management may co-ordinate relief for families affected by fire incidents like these and may find alternative or temporary accommodation or the Social Development Department’s intervention may be called on to assist.
Mabaso said calling the emergency services department benefits the community and should always be done.
