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- Fire erupted at Boxer Shopping Complex in Komani on November 16.
- Al Amin Store was stocked to the brim ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
- Stock worth R1.2 million at Al Amin Store was destroyed as a result of the fire.
Christmas dreams for certain families were shattered after at least three shops at the Boxer Shopping Complex in Komani caught fire at around 23:00 on Thursday, November 16 – just as load shedding ended.
IP Hardware, Pep Store, and Al Amin Store were razed to the ground by the fire.
While the cost of the damage has not been established, Al Amin Store owner, Rahidol Islam said he had stocked his shop to the brim in preparation for Christmas shopping and specials.
His shop sells electronics including flat-screen TV sets, linen, and carpets among other items.
“I got a call after 23:00 from a security company, just after load shedding, that my shop was on fire. I had stock of at least R1.2 million in preparation for Christmas shopping.I have lost everything, I don’t know what I am going to do with my employees,” he said.
Islam employs six people with one of his employees, Phumlani Kohlani, saying he got to the scene of the fire around 03:00 after getting a call from Islam.
He said he had been working for Islam for three months as an interim measure while he was still looking for a job.
“This is very painful for me and my family. I had dreams of buying my child Christmas clothes and contributing towards groceries for this coming Christmas. My family was also looking forward to this. The dream is dead, and I am really hurt,” he said.
Chris Hani District Municipality spokesperson, Bulelwa Ganyaza, had not responded to a request for information at the time of publishing.
