Was the wrong house bombed?
SOWETO police have appealed to anyone who might have information relating to the petrol bombing of a house in Protea Glen last Thursday to come forward.
Though it has not been confirmed if this bombing was related to the public servants' strike, indications suggest so.
The bombed house belongs to Hilda Ncaphayi, 49, who is unemployed and lives with her three sons. She has no relation whatsoever with the public sector. But, her neighbours, Lebo and Eric Moathlodi, do. They work at Helen Joseph Hospital as a porter and clerk respectively.
The Moathlodis' house was also petrol bombed yesterday and it has been confirmed by the provincial department of health that the attack was linked to the strike.
Lebo Moathlodi said she believed that her house and Ncaphayi's were petrol bombed by the same people.
"I may not have all the facts but I believe that the incidents are related to the strike," she said.
"Why else would people go around bombing innocent people's houses for no reason?
"My theory is that whoever threw that bomb into Ncaphayi's house must have thought it belonged to me. They must have realised after doing so that it was the wrong house. Now the poor woman has no home and most of her belongings were burnt in the fire," said Moathlodi.
Ncaphayi's house was worse off compared to her neighbour's.
Ncaphayi is pleading with the public to help her with food, clothing, home appliances and furniture.
"Everything was destroyed in the fire. My furniture, food and clothes were burnt to ashes. Our neighbours have been helping us with whatever they can but there is only so much they can do," she added.
Health and social development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said social workers would assess the situation and assist where they could.
Baleli
Wow, and what has this achieved other than making a fellow african poorer than she was. We seem to be getting ourselves deeper in poverty and we do not know how to get out.How about doing something positive and see where this road takes us instead to killing and stealing for one another.
"nothing exceptional has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to their circumstances"
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Wirisi
why would another human being inflict such a pain on another sould? this is the worst nightmare that could ever happen to anyone. the holigans that did the act should be brought to book.Report Abuse
mthunzco
Seeing that this might be linked to the strike. Why don't the leaders of these Unions respond to the woman's plea?Report Abuse
Tsinki
This is very sad.After burning the house do they think their salary would increase!Ke bo hlanya kaofela
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1malesia
@Baleli - strong words, and so true.I must say, I find the title very ironic "was the wrong house bombed?" Why was there a house that was supposed to be bombed in the first place? What amazes me most is that the majority of these people who are on strike are older people. People with children, responsibility, and yet they choose to behave in such a manner.
Someone once saik that, "we inherit our past, but only we can change our future".
Let us remember that every time we sacrifice the future of the youth in the name of democrasy, every time we turn away a raped child because government has to learn a lesson, every time someone dies because the nurse helping was intimidated................................
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Nescafe
The poor woman lost her belongings bcoz of some stupid idiotic fool, hope she gets help.Report Abuse
Nescafe
The poor woman lost her belongings bcoz of some stupid idiotic fool, hope she gets help.Report Abuse
edna
This is bad guys. I hope those rich politians would help.I cant imagine starting all over...
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