It has been almost one year since tragedy struck a Laudium family, where both a mother and daughter passed away, due to a blaze at the family home, on October 19, 2020.
Margaret Francis Pillay, the owner of the fire ravaged home on Aquamarine Street, who lost both her sister, Ella Ebrahim (77) and her niece, Michelle Pillay (52), told the Laudium Sun that up till now she does not know what caused the deadly fire and that neither the police or the fire department has given her any report concerning their investigation on the tragic incident. The tragic incident would forever remain a nightmare for her, she said. Margaret added, “I am not sure if it was an electrical fault or maybe a gas leak.”
This past Monday (Sept 20), Margaret, sent a letter to Laudium Sun where she gave thanks to members of the community who helped her during and after the fire and who helped her rebuild her home on Aquamarine Street.
“I want to say thank you to the Laudium Sun for the publication and enquiring about my plight. A big thank you to each and every one from the community who helped to put out the blaze with the fire fighters and who assisted after the fire and with the funerals of my two dear ones. All you good people who donated and sponsored from Germany, Cape Town, Wellington, Johannesburg, Lenasia, Pretoria and Laudium.
To all religious organisations, including all the churches, I want to say a big thank you, especially to the Santa Maria Portugese Catholic Church in Pretoria West.
Thanks to all who supplied building material and cash. I feel humbled and grateful to say thanks to my daughter and son-in-law for getting us settled into our house.
I still cry, but its tears of gratefulness. Thank you Allah, Thank you the Almighty. May God bless all the good people. To my sister Ella and my niece Michelle who died in the fire, may your souls rest in eternal peace. I miss you both.”
