Lwandle police have opened an inquest docket after a woman was burnt to death in a fatal shack fire in Nomzamo.
The blaze occurred in the early hours of last Sunday morning (25 February). The tragedy left the informal structure gutted and claimed the life of a 44-year-old mother and sister identified as Nokwanele Gwabeni.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town, said the firefighting crews responded to an emergency call of a structure alight in Koyini Street just before 02:00 on Sunday. Firefighters from Strand and Sir Lowry’s Pass were dispatched to the scene. “By 02:25, firefighters had managed to contain and extinguish the blaze that destroyed a single structure,” he said. “One adult female succumbed to fatal burn wounds.”
The deceased’s charred body was found inside the wooden backyard structure, where a suspected electrical fault may have occurred.
“The cause of the fire is unknown pending a police investigation.”
Lwandle police spokesperson Sergeant Mthokozisi Gama said no foul play was suspected and an inquest docket had been opened. He further called on anyone with information about the incident to make contact with the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Arnold Woodward, on 021 845 2060.
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette offered the deceased’s daughter living in the Eastern Cape province an opportunity to comment on the tragedy, but the offer was declined.
The “paper also reached out to the deceased’s employers at Diverso Technology, after a post was shared to the business’ Facebook page in tribute to their beloved employee.
“Last Friday was Lovetia’s last day with us,” it said, “and we didn’t even know it. Will we ever know? Therefore the takeaway is simple: Carpe diem with humble gratitude and extravagant love.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her children and family as they navigate a new way through the days that lie ahead.”
Anna-Marie du Toit, who runs the business alongside her husband, shared Gwabeni was employed at the office equipment supplier in Somerset West for the past two years.
She said Gwabeni fulfilled the function of general assistant (cleaner) in the workplace, which she shared with her sister and brother-in-law as fellow employees.
Du Toit described her as a modest person who generally kept to herself and whose love for looking pretty and dressing up became evident at their monthly work get-togethers.
“You don’t always realise just how much you’ll miss those like Lovetia, who are just in the background and vacuuming your office, when they are not there. We miss her dearly.”
Out of care and love for Gwabeni, the Diverso staff collected money and joined forces to ensure food and other necessities were delivered to her daughter in Gqeberha every Friday for four consecutive Fridays.
