Two people burned beyond recognition in a shack fire that occurred at Simanyene informal settlement in Lwandle on Monday 22 September.
A total of seven shacks were affected and 12 people left homeless.
A victim Nomazizi Lumkwana said the incident started at about 01:00.
“I was sleeping when the fire started. My son woke me up and told me there was some noise outside.
“When I opened the door, I saw flames from one of my neighbour’s shacks. I called my son, and we ran out,” said Lumkwana, adding that she didn’t even try to salvage any of her belongings. She said she lost everything.
Lumkwana said she learnt later that there were some casualties.
Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso said the motive is unknown. He described the incident as horrible.
“We are so devastated by the incident. As the community, we are with the deceased family.
“The deceased are eight and 18 years old. They are siblings. We are appealing to anyone to help the victims with whatever so that they can rebuild their shacks and for the preparations of the funerals,” said Diniso.
He said he informed both the City officials and the Gift of the Givers about the incident.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Edward Bosch confirmed the incident citing that the Fire and Rescue Service received a call for assistance at 00:26 on Monday 22 September, for wood and iron structures alight at Masakhane road in Lwandle.
He said four firefighting vehicles with 17 firefighters responded from the Strand, Sir Lowry’s Pass and Somerset West Fire Stations.
“A total of seven structures were destroyed, leaving 12 persons displaced.
“An adult male and a female minor succumbed to fatal burn wounds,” concluded Bosch.
