‘I could have lost my son’: Mitchells Plain father counts the cost after devastating fire

Brent Petersen, a father from Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, was left devastated after a fire destroyed his home in the early hours of Saturday morning. He expressed immense gratitude for still being alive and his family safe, recounting the harrowing moment he found his Grade 12 son, Yaseen Van Wyk, in the kitchen. The fire, which broke out around 4am at the Wendy house behind Petersen's mother, Sariefa Madatt, spread rapidly, leaving the family with nothing but the clothes they had managed to save.

The loss was immense, as the fire took everything from beds, clothing, furniture, documents, to Yaseen's school uniform, books, stationery, and cellphone. Yaseen, preparing for his matric examinations, is now reliant on his friends' family for support, trying to stay strong despite the trauma. Nakieba Damons, Yaseen's best friend's mother, appealed for community help, emphasizing Yaseen's determination to complete his matric and his need for school materials, clothing, bedding, toiletries, groceries, and support to rebuild their lives.