RESIDENTS from Khayelitsha in Cape Town say their children will not have a place to study and do homework.
This is after the community library burnt to ashes on Thursday, 1 February.
According to one of the security guards who was on duty at the time, they heard an explosion and before they could check what was happening, they saw huge flames coming from the library.
“It happened very fast. Before we could even check what had exploded, huge flames inside the library welcomed us. Thank God workers had just left, and the library was closed when the incident happened. How the fire happened was scary. If there was someone inside, the possibility of them surviving the fire incident was slim because it happened fast,” said the security guard.
Resident Zikhona Maqokolo (45) said her daughter called her from the house telling her that the library was on fire, and it was just an hour after she came back from the library.
ALSO READ: 'Gintsa' lover destroys family home!
“I always tell her to go to the library after school so on the day she had just returned from the library when the fire occurred. I’m glad it didn’t happen while there were people inside because it would have been a disaster,” said Maqokolo.
Zikhona considers the library as a safe space where she can study without interruptions rather than doing homework in their small-room shack.
Residents said they rushed with buckets of water to try and kill the fire that had engulfed the library.
“Firefighters arrived but we had already tried our best to stop the fire, but it was too strong for us,” said another resident Linda Matshangisa (36).
MMC for Community Services and Health Vouncillor Patricia van der Ross said the library caters for 4 000 patrons every month. She is, however, relieved that the fire happened after hours.
“I want to thank the residents who assisted and rushed to help. I'm saddened that the facility will now be unavailable to its many patrons and programmes which benefit the community,” said Van der Ross.
