Hope has emerged from the rubble in Doornkop, Soweto, after the Collen Mashawana Foundation announced it will step in to support a family devastated by the collapse of a double-storey house that claimed the lives of three relatives, including a one-year-old. The foundation’s intervention brings much-needed relief to the grieving family as they begin the painful journey of burying their loved ones and rebuilding their lives. The tragedy, which unfolded in the Doornkop informal settlement, claimed the lives of a 60-year-old woman, a 24-year-old woman and a toddler, all from the same family.
Six people were inside the house at the time of the collapse, according to Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (JEMS). Emergency crews arrived shortly after 3am and launched an overnight rescue operation. Three people were found trapped in the rubble but were rescued and transported to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital for medical treatment.
Two adult women and a child survived, while three family members tragically lost their lives. As many as 13 people permanently lived in the house. Three other relatives, who were visiting for the holidays, were away at the time, a twist of fate that spared them from the tragedy.
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The foundation confirmed that its patron, Mashawana, has spearheaded an urgent intervention plan for the family, with full support from the foundation’s stakeholders. “The family fully qualifies for immediate assistance, and within four weeks, we aim to hand over a structurally sound and fully furnished home,” the foundation said.
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