GOD HELP US: Otlogetswe

Family pleads as mysterious fires return

The Otlogetswe family in Kanye is living in perpetual fear following a spate of mysterious fires that have consumed their property in the past two weeks.

A disturbed Orebotswe Otlogetswe, 55 this week spoke of how the fires have been tormenting them, burning clothes, blankets and furniture. “It all started on a Sunday afternoon when a tenant told us that there was fire in the house. I then rushed into the house through the back door and found one of the bedrooms in flames.

I had put my laundry on a chair and when I entered the room they had all burnt down. We then struggled with the neighbours to put out the fire but by the time we were done it had consumed everything,” she said.

Otlogetswe said she then removed the charred remains of the furniture and tried to clean up the house only to get another fire attack two days later. She explained that this is the second time for the family to suffer because of the fires.

“This time we did not even bother to report to the police because in 2001 there was nothing they could do as they just stared in disbelief when the fires attacked. We invited different churches to pray for us and we also spent a lot of money on prophets and traditional doctors but all their efforts were in vain. The fires then stopped on their own in August 2002,” she said and added: “At the time my daughter was traumatised as the fire burnt everything that she sat on.”

this time around Otlogetswe says the fire just starts on its own and burns everything in the vicinity.

EVIDENCE:Some of the charred remains

She believes the fires are the works of evil forces and that she will keep praying for the safety of her family. “These days I can’t even leave the house to attend funerals and weddings because I worry that the fire might strike and burn everything  when there is no one to douse it. I can’t afford to spend any more money on traditional doctors and I can only appeal to anyone who cares to come to our rescue and help us replace what we have lost.

My family is going through a tough time in this harsh winter and I’m unemployed. I survive on the P500 monthly rentals that I get from my two tenants and my fear is that they might also vacate their houses in fear of their safety. I also fear that the power cables might get burnt and cause worse damage and get us electrocuted,” said the mother of six.

But for now as the family enters the third week of torment, Otlogetswe say they have put their faith in God.

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