7-year-old boy and baby die in fires

Eight people, including a young boy and a baby, were killed in shack fires across Cape Town this weekend.

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Cape Town - An infant and a young child were among eight people killed in shack fires across the city this weekend, Cape Town

Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Theo Layne said.

An unnamed couple and their seven-year-old boy died in a fire in Vrygrond on Saturday, the same day that another couple, Vuyani Maqhutyana, 36, his girlfriend Ndileka Noheshana, 25, and their 18-month-old boy Ibanathi Noheshana were

killed in a fire at Burundi Farm in Mfuleni, Layne said.

And in another fire on Saturday, a Mitchells Plain man died from smoke inhalation

.

In a fourth fire at the weekend, a man died when his shack caught alight in Lwandle, near Strand, on Saturday night. Layne said it was unclear what caused the fires.

Maqhutyana’s brother, Mfundo Maqhutyana, said the two of them had been out drinking on Saturday night and had had a meal on their return home.

He then went to his own shack a few metres away, Maqhutyana said.

“My girlfriend woke me up and said that something strange was going on outside. When I went to investigate I saw my brother’s shack in flames. We shouted for help but people could not do anything because the fire had already engulfed the shack.”

Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said the cause of the fire was unknown and police were investigating.

Van Wyk said police were called to attend to a scene where a house had burnt down with three occupants inside at Burundi farm in Mfuleni.

He said police had opened an inquest docket.

Maqhutyana said that an hour before the fire his brother had come to him looking for matches. He believed a candle may have caused the fire, he said.

“It is sad and painful that all of them died in such a manner,” said Maqhutyana.

He added that the couple had been unemployed and he too did not have money.

“This is tragic because burying them will be very difficult because I also do not have an income,” he said.

Neighbour Mzimasi Melaphi, 40, said he and other residents could not do anything to put out the fire.

“All we could do was watch as the fire destroyed the house. We could not even try to douse the fire because we did not have water. It was sad.

“We believe we could have saved one of them if there was a tap somewhere, but unfortunately there were none,” said Melaphi.

sandiso.phaliso@inl.co.za

@PhalisoSandiso

Cape Times