He is being dubbed a hero by some of his neighbours and friends after he helped put out a fire in a burning house near his home in Greenhills, Randfontein.
Afro-pop singer Ntando Bangani was one of the first people on the scene of a burning cottage where he broke the burglar gate and kicked down the door to try and extinguish a blaze before fire fighters and authorities came to the scene.
But the singer says he did what anyone else would have done in that situation.
“I was showing the spirit of ubuntu, there is really nothing special. It’s human nature for me to help. I wish we had seen the fire earlier so we could avoid the amount of damage and trauma the fire caused,” he tells Drum.
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Ntando says on Sunday, 8 May while in his West Rand home getting ready to start a braai around 11am, he saw a cloud of black smoke coming from the neighbours'.
“I thought it was a braai, but realised the smoke was too much,” he says.
“When we stepped out, I saw the smoke was pitch black. I went outside, opened the gate, and saw a fire. The neighbours’ gates were locked, we were screaming for the neighbours," he says.
“We managed to get into the house . . . We had to kick the doors, get hose pipes and went to the back to put out the fire.
"By then, the security company had arrived, then the police and the fire brigade to finish off the job,” he says.
“The whole neighbourhood really came together. It was a united scene that you want South Africa to be. If we could all do the same thing for each other.
Neighbours commended Ntando for his heroic act in helping to put out the fire. Petro Burzlar says Ntando kicked the gate open, and he was united with the community.
“Ntando was without a doubt a superhero. The community stood together. I am very proud to call him and his wife friends. The community of Greenhills extension five really stood together,” she says.
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Another neighbour who does not wish to be named says it was a horrific scene, but everyone helped where they could.
“Ntando was not a superstar on the scene or a famous musician, but he came and got down and dirty to try and stop the fire. The family where the fire broke out are still dealing with the trauma.”
Ntando wishes more people would lend a helping hand where they can, saying, “We really need South Africa to unite.
"We have gone through a lot as a nation.”
