The Bonga family of Europe informal settlement in Gugulethu is appealing for funds to bury a family member who was burnt beyond recognition in a shack fire on Sunday 5 July.

The cause of the incident is still unknown. The deceased’s sister, Phelisa Bonga, said the family was heartbroken by the incident.

Flames erupted after 20:00

She said the fire started after 20:00.: “I received a call from my brother, who was at work at the time, informing me that Novangeli Mqushulwa’s (33) shack was on fire. I hurried to the scene, and on my arrival her shack was already down. We discovered the body after the flames were extinguished.”

Bonga said the family was facing a mammoth burden in burying their loved one. She said one of these immediate challenges was raising money to conduct a DNA test, the positive identification of remains a legal necessity.

“The family is going to meet this coming weekend to discuss the funeral arrangements. But what we need right now is R1 900 to conduct a DNA test. We will arrange the funeral afterwards. Our aim is to bury her in ancestral lands in Butterworth, Eastern Cape.”

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Community leader Betty Duli-Mkinase said only one shack was affected. She said the deceased’s neighbours had told her they heard a commotion before the fire started.

“They said the deceased was fighting with her boyfriend before the incident. The neighbours were informed by a 5-year-old child that the shack was on fire. The community managed to extinguish the flames and later discovered there was someone inside.”

Body discovered on the bed

The body was found on a bed. Duli-Mkinase said the deceased’s boyfriend was nowhere to be found while the community was extinguishing the flames.

Fire service confirms one fatality

The City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said the incident was reported at 20:25 as a shack alight in Europe informal settlement, Gugulethu on Sunday 5 July.

“The crews from Gugulethu and Lansdowne Road were on the scene. One structure was destroyed and one person sustained fatal burn wounds. The gender and age of the victim are unknown.”