A family of nine from Chavani village, southeast of Elim, is still reeling after a series of mysterious fires destroyed their 10-room house and two adjoining outside rooms.
Once considered well-off, the family now sleeps on the veranda of the burnt-out home, without food or blankets. They have lost most of their belongings and are appealing to the community for help.
While community members and Makhado Mayor Dorcus Mboyi have offered moral support, the atmosphere remains sombre, with residents visibly distressed by the unfolding events. The family now fears they may have been cursed as the unexplained fires continue to upend their lives.
One of the family members, Ms Sibongile Baloyi, said the ordeal had begun on 18 May, when clothes belonging to one of the younger boys inexplicably caught fire. "The boy would complain about the mysterious fire and became too scared to wear the clothes," she said.
Later, another fire broke out inside the house. "We were shocked to see smoke billowing from one of the rooms. When we got there, the clothes and bed were on fire," Baloyi said. "Then we suddenly saw thick smoke coming from another room. When we went there, we found that the clothes, furniture and food were burning." She said the family could do nothing but watch as the flames consumed everything.
The family's spirits were briefly lifted when Mayor Mboyi visited on 3 June and donated food and blankets. However, when she returned on 5 June to offer further support, she found that the donated items had also been destroyed by fire.
Ms Gladwin Madia, a member of SANCO, said various community structures were discussing the incident and that several people had already visited the family to pray with them. "The family needs counselling. They are going through a very difficult time," he said. "We appeal to anyone who can assist to come forward before the entire house is destroyed."
The general secretary of the Limpopo Traditional Health Practitioners and Vhembe Traditional Health Practitioners, Mbulaheni Neluvhola, said they would investigate whether any of their members might be supplying people with concoctions that could cause such fires.