A FIGHT over cellphone has left six families stranded.
Sipho Kwendla, a landlord, borrowed his tenant a cellphone.
On Saturday, 29 July he demanded his phone back, which the tenant refused, resulting in an argument between the two.
Sipho (38) from Moseleki section in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, and his tenant live in a yard that includes six shacks.
"We had an argument after he insisted on not giving me back my phone. We exchanged punches and some of the tenants in the yard intervened and told us to stop fighting.
"I went to a friend's house near my place to cool off, but a few hours later I received a call that my shack was on fire."
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He said his shack, and five shacks caught fire, including the shack of the tenant who took his phone.
Sipho said no one knows what caused the fire, but he said some neigbhours allegedly saw the tenant, he had an argument with, run away when his shack caught fire.
"It's so sad that tenants lost their belongings because of the fight between me and one of the tenants.
"To make matter worse, all the tenants are not working, and they won't be able to replace their damaged furniture and burnt clothes," he said.
Sipho said he opened a case at Katlehong Police Station.
One of the tenants, Malefa Moloi (53) said she has lost her all belongings.
"I have lost everything. I need help to anyone who can help me to rebuild my shack," she said.
Another tenant, Lisibina Tshangane (51), said no one injured during the incident.
"We watched in disbelieve as our shack, where we have lived for more than 10 years, went up in flames.
"I'm left with the clothes I'm wearing. The rest of my belongings were burnt including grandchildren school uniforms,"
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said a case of arson and damaged to property has been opened and the matter is under investigation.
