{"id":50575,"date":"2023-03-07T06:01:41","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T04:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/familys-memories-go-up-in-smoke-as-home-gutted-by-blaze-triggered-by-load-shedding-20230307\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T20:40:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:40:31","slug":"familys-memories-go-up-in-smoke-as-home-gutted-by-blaze-triggered-by-load-shedding-20230307","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/familys-memories-go-up-in-smoke-as-home-gutted-by-blaze-triggered-by-load-shedding-20230307\/","title":{"rendered":"Family’s memories go up in smoke as home gutted by blaze triggered by load shedding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A soot-covered picture of them in their younger days is all that is left as a reminder of the happy memories they have made in their home over the last 34 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now their home lay in ruin following a devastating fire that destroyed their belongings on Saturday 25 February<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vivienne and Frederick Majiet are the third families in a matter of weeks to lose their belongings in a residential fire in the Tafelsig area. All three as a result of electrical faults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This image took pride of place in their living room. Now covered. It is one of the only items to somewhat survive the blaze. <\/div>\n
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The window in the front of the home where they passed their grandson to save his life. Blocking their escape, it nearly cost them their lives.<\/div>\n
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The crack in the wall where the fire is believed to have started. <\/div>\n
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The electricity meter box destroyed in the fire <\/div>\n
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Following the 02:00 to 04:00 load shedding block in Tafelsig that morning, a plug point in their granddaughter\u2019s room blew at the return of power to the grid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This power surge caused a fire that quickly engulfed the room spreading to the rest of the Dolomites Street house. Deep cracks in this room wall are among the evident damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were asleep, we didn\u2019t even know the house was on fire. My daughter who lives in the separate entrance came to tell us the rooms are on fire,\u201d says Vivienne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were trapped inside. We couldn\u2019t find the keys. When the plug blew the electricity immediately went out. The house was full of smoke. It was dark. I smashed the window to help ventilation,\u201d says Frederick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these moments of sheer desperation, they passed their four-year-old grandson through the burglar bars so he could escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt that moment I was thinking about how we could remove the bars. I was going to pull on it to get us out. You know, we put up bars to keep criminals out, and that night it kept us in,\u201d says Frederick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The plug point which is believed to have caused the fire. It allegedly blew during a power surge. PHOTOS: Samantha lee-Jacobs<\/div>\n
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The entire home will need to be rebuilt <\/div>\n
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The Majiets have lost everything in the blaze. <\/div>\n
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Serious burn wounds to Vivienne Majiet\u2019s face have begun to heal.<\/div>\n
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Reliving the events of that night is clearly emotional for the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Showing People\u2019s Post<\/em> the window he had smashed in the five to 10 minutes they were trapped, they recount how different it could have been if the keys had not been found. But God\u2019s hand covered them, they say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, the keys were found and they could escape before any fatalities. Luckily, their granddaughter was not home at the time of the blaze. Vivienne sustained burn wounds to her face and arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt that moment we just ran out of the house. I was in my spaghetti top and underwear,\u201d says Vivienne. Frederick was also in his underwear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I can say one thing, I would love to thank the community. They came out in large numbers to help us. They clothed me, they brought buckets to try and put the fire out. They brought us coffee the next morning. That time of the morning, they came to our aid. I really want to thank them,\u201d says Frederick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the property is City rental stock, the City will rebuild the property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes I still cry at night, because I miss my house,\u201d says Vivienne. \u201cIt is still so traumatic for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ward 82 councillor, Washiela Harris says insurance procedures are underway and the rebuild process could take between two and three months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe City advises residents to switch off their electricity completely when they know there is going to be load shedding and switch it back on when power is restored to avoid surges,\u201d she says. \u201cYou can look outside and see if the street lights are on to see power is back. Even if you switch it off two minutes before load shedding, this will help. This is the only advice the City can give.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Majiets say they never knew anything about surges and never expected anything like this to ever happen. The soft furnishings such as beds and bedding, curtains and clothing contributed to the quick spread of the fire. Their three bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and lounge have been destroyed. With it their TVs, washing machine, other big appliances, cupboards, clothing, food supply and other acquired furnishings have been destroyed. The insurance will not cover this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • If you can assist the family in any way, call Vivienne Majiet on 078\u2009402\u20099625.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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