By Buziwe Nocuze
- Nomsa Jogwana from the Siqalo informal settlement switched to an imbawula after paraffin prices went up to R50 a litre.
- Jogwana now buys a bunch of wood for R80. She says the wood lasts her for a week of use.
Nomsa Jogwana has switched back to using firewood to cook and to keep warm. The 56-year-old woman from Siqalo informal settlement in Cape Town says she can no longer afford paraffin.
Jogwana was paying R40 for a litre of paraffin. She stopped buying it after the seller told her the price will jump to R50 a litre.
This means five litres of paraffin will cost her R250, up from R200.
“I have never paid so much for a litre of paraffin,” Jogwana said.
She said she was already struggling to pay R40 and cannot afford the new price. This forced her to go back to using firewood.
Jogwana now buys a bunch of wood for R80.
“I was so happy when the seller told me that it is R80 and I bought it,” she said.
The wood lasts her a week. She plans to keep using it because paraffin prices keep going up.
Jogwana does not blame the sellers for the high prices.
“We cannot blame them because we see that they are also not getting it cheaper. So instead of complaining about something that I don’t have the power to change, I came up with a plan to save money,” she said.
Using firewood can be dangerous. The fires often cause deaths and injuries in South Africa during winter.
Jogwana knows the risks and takes care when using firewood.
“I am very cautious when using it. I don’t want anyone putting it off except me. I want to make sure that it is off before we go to sleep,” she said.
She said she always puts the fire outside and checks that it is completely out.
Pictured above: Nomsa Jogwana has switched back to using firewood after the price of paraffin increased.
Image source: Nomsa Jogwana
