Residents of Ramaphosa informal settlement in Philippi were left devastated after two people were burnt beyond recognition in a fire that occurred on Sunday 14 July.
The cause of the incident is not known. Only two shacks were affected in the incident.
Community leader Babalwa Siswana said some community members were with the deceased’s family members at this time of bereavement.
“We don’t know what caused the fire and we don’t want to speculate,” she said. “The deceased are cousins – a woman, aged 31, and a man, aged 26. We are horrified by the incident, because both the deceased were still young and their parents were expecting a lot from them.”
Siswana stated such incidents hardly happen in the area as they often caution residents in public meetings to be vigilant.
The City’s Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson Quinton Leon said the incident was reported at 02:25 on Sunday 14 July.
“A fire engine, water tanker and a rescue vehicle attended to the incident,” he said. “Two informal dwellings were affected. One man and a woman sustained fatal burns.
No other injuries were reported , said Leon, adding the fire was extinguished at 03:04.
