FIVE MEMBERS OF FAMILY BURIED.

FIVE members of the same family who died in a shack fire in Chris Hani kasi, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape were buried on Saturday.

The funeral at the Old Apostolic Church in KwaNobuhle, was attended by mayor Danny Jordaan and his deputy, Bicks Ndoni. They supplied the coffins for the mother and four of her daughters. Also at the funeral were councillors and more than 1 000 mourners.

Obituaries were read for Babalwa Sindlani (35) and her children, Oyena (9), Asonge (4), Yamkela (2), and three-month-old Indiphile Jack.

Only two family members survived the fire: a daughter, Asemahle (15) and her father, Thembekile Jack (44).

Thembekile, who is a deacon at the Old Apostolic Church, sat near the pulpit surrounded by male church members.

Babalwa’s obituary read: “Release me, Makhomazi and Botshezi, what happened to us has happened. Umlilo usidlakazile.”

When Indiphile’s obituary was read, the church hall echoed with the cries of mourners.

“I was born on 2 March 2015 in KwaNobuhle. Please release me,” read the obituary.

Preacher and elder Andile Nkumna quoted from the Book of John.

He said it is well-known that, through the years, many people have died in shack fires.

“We say to the family never go to a sangoma for answers about this event. God can heal your heart,” said Nkumna.

Elder Mziwabantu Ntoni spoke from the pulpit and said: “We don’t know if this fire came from left or right.

“If it’s an evil fire, let there be payback for the one who carried it during the night. “But if it came from God, we accept it.”

He said the incident challenged government to do more to help people live with dignity.