Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has voiced his concerns following the tragic deaths of three sisters at the Phumasilwe Informal Settlement in Tembisa. The siblings, aged between seven and 15, perished when their makeshift home was engulfed by flames this past weekend. This heart-breaking case has shed light on the dire circumstances faced by many families living in informal settlements across South Africa.
During a memorial service held at Sedibeng Primary School, attendees were reminded of the challenges faced by the girls not just in their final moments but throughout their lives. The atmosphere was heavy with grief, and Premier Lesufi extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, recognising the broader implications of the tragedy. “When the teachers were going through their stories, it kept ringing in my mind that how many other families are like this,” he said. “We are just here today to say farewell to these three beautiful souls, to strengthen their family and the school as well.”
The Premier’s words highlighted the urgent need for intervention in similar communities. “This incident must not be left unattended,” he declared, affirming his commitment to liaising with the MEC responsible for education to examine the conditions of schools not only in Tembisa but surrounding areas as well. “Children should attend graduation ceremonies, not funerals,” he added, underscoring the tragic irony of young lives lost to circumstances that could have been avoided.
Teachers at Sedibeng Primary School expressed their deep concern over the living conditions of some of their students. Teacher Klaas Mashiane, who took it upon himself to visit the home of the Sekaoke sisters, described a dismal environment. “The situation that I have found there was not pleasing. I bought some food for their house,” he recounted, illustrating the hardships that hinder children’s access to education. “They were bright and promising learners, yet they were not coming to school regularly as they were supposed to.”
Amid the sorrow, the authorities have taken action: police have arrested the girls’ mother on charges of child neglect and she remains in custody as investigations continue. This incident is not isolated; it follows a separate fire in May that claimed the lives of six family members in the nearby Marikana Informal Settlement, bringing to light the grim realities faced by many living in such precarious conditions.