Fire claims child's life
2011-07-21
Lise Beyers
EIGHTEEN years of hard work was razed to the ground this week, when a shelter for homeless children burnt to the ground, leaving a toddler dead in its aftermath. This tragedy occurred early on Monday morning when three informal homes neighbouring Miriam Toni’s shelter in Mbekweni, caught alight. The fire allegedly started in one of these houses when a resident left a pot cooking unattended over an open flame. The flames spread to Miriam’s home, quickly engulfing the wooden structure. Once all the children were removed and a head-count was done, Miriam’s worst nightmare came true. A two-year-old boy was missing. On Monday morning a still dazed Miriam described what had happened only hours earlier. “My son woke me up and told me that the shacks nearby were burning. I immediately got out of bed, but the flames jumped across and set my house alight. “We immediately woke up all the children and took them outside, carrying the little ones in our arms. “Some of the older children ran back in to try and save our computers, but soon the house was an inferno.” Miriam’s first concern was for the children. But she realised that a little boy, only known as Jacob, was missing. “I was terrified and wanted to run back into the house, but I was held back by neighbours who had come to help.” Miriam had hope that the little boy had wandered off to a neighbour for safety, but after the flames had been doused by the Drakenstein fire department, the charred body of the youngster was discovered. Miriam has been running her ‘house of hope’ in Ntozethu Street, Chris Hani Park, for nearly 18 years. She is widely considered to be the Mother Theresa of Mbekweni. Her charity work started off with her going from house to house, caring for HIV positive mothers and their children. Later she opened her home to orphaned and unwanted children. On the evening of the fire, there where 18 such children between the ages of a few weeks to 18 years being housed in her humble structure. Jacob had been left with her a year ago by his mother who could not care for him anymore. The children have now been given temporary shelter with various families. Currently food, clothing, shoes, towels, bedding and mattresses are desperately needed. Financial donations can be paid into the following account: Miriam House - TGC Community at FNB checque account 62261357571 (branch code 200110).
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