The brother of a Newlands East man, who died in a house fire on Friday night, has thanked the community for helping to put out the fire and calling firefighters when their Massbanker Avenue home was ablaze.
Speaking to the Springfield Weekly Gazette, Timothy Gertze said at this stage, the cause of the fire that claimed the life of his younger brother, Mark Gertze, 44, is not known. “We are waiting for the authorities to give us a report back as to what really caused the fire. My brother lived alone. He was epileptic and was an introvert, he always kept to himself. He had no children and no wife,” said Gertze. He added that the house his brother lived in had no electricity and water since 1995. “The electricity and water was disconnected in 1995 as we were in arrears and since then I have been paying the balance in small instalments.
I moved out of the home with my family but still helped out my brother whenever I could as he was unemployed. The neighbours also helped him a lot, by giving him food and some would even make him a hot cup of tea. I appreciate all the help and support they gave my brother when he was alive,” said Gertze.Newlands East resident and community activist, Joanne Ryan, said she received a call from the deceased’s neighbours and called the police and Fire Department. “I went on scene and when I arrived, residents had brought buckets of water and connected a hosepipe to extinguish the fire. It is sad that he succumbed to the injuries. Condolences to his family for the loss,” said Ryan. Police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele, said Newlands East Police are investigating an inquest docket following the incident. “A man was burnt to death when a house caught fire on Massbanker Avenue in Newlands East. The cause of fire is still unknown,” said Col Mbele. Gertze said the funeral service for his late brother will be held at 85 Massbanker Avenue on Friday, 12 November, at 9am.
