News24 | ‘The fire was too big’: Father shares anguish after losing 5 children in KZN house fire

Asamkele Somtsewu, 19, with one-year-old twins Sokhula and Solulele Somtsewu (left), alongside 14-year-old Sonwabise Noyila (top right), and three-year-old Amila Menemene (bottom right).

• Five children, including one-year-old twins, have been killed in a fire in Stanger, north of Durban.
• A toddler survived after her mother jumped into the fire and grabbed her.
• The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Sivuyile Noyila relived the desperate moments when a raging fire tore through his home in Shakashead, Stanger, trapping his loved ones inside and claiming five young lives.

What they thought would be a usual Friday night at the Noyila household turned into an unthinkable nightmare as flames spread rapidly through the home, filling the air with smoke and panic.

Noyila told News24 that he had just locked up after a group of customers finished playing pool in another room. He went to bed at about 23:00, but roughly three hours later, he and his partner, Ntombovuyo Menemene, were jolted awake by screams of, “Dad! Dad!”

“Our bedroom is right next to the children’s bedroom. All of them were sleeping there because it has a bigger bed than ours,” he said.

The room was occupied by six children: his children, 19-year-old Asamkele Somtsewu, three-year-old Amila Menemene, and two-year-old Yana Menemene, his grandchildren, one-year-old twins Sokhula and Solulele Somtsewu, and his 14-year-old nephew Sonwabise Noyila.

READ | ‘We lost everything’: Masiphumelele fire leaves one dead, 80 displaced

Noyila said he and Menemene jumped out of bed and rushed to help, but were met by a raging blaze blocking the doorway.

“The fire was so big, and the house was filled with smoke. I don’t know where their mother got the courage, but she jumped in and managed to grab two-year-old Yana. When she tried to go back in again, she couldn’t. The fire was pushing her back,” he said.

He said they were forced to watch helplessly as the children screamed for help.

“The neighbours came to assist, but nothing could be done because the fire was too big,” he added, his voice trembling.

Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said the remains of the five children were removed by the SAPS forensic team for investigation.

The two-year-old and the mother, who suffered injuries, were taken to the hospital.

Noyila said he does not know what caused the fire, as they do not use candles and rely on rechargeable lights.

“It couldn’t have been the stove. We ate at about 20:00, and I went to bed at 23:00, so for the fire to start around 03:00… it doesn’t make sense that it was the stove,” he said.

He told News24 he was concerned that the children may be buried in different places.

He said:

Duma and the KwaDukuza Local Municipality said authorities would assist the family during this difficult time.

“The father has indicated that he would like to bury his loved ones in the Eastern Cape. KwaDukuza Municipality is assisting with interventions, including groceries and other necessities.

“The Department of Social Development will also provide counselling to the traumatised family,” Duma added.