Three people sadly passed away in the early hours of Monday morning, 6 October due to shack fire.
This after a fire broke out in the Kosovo informal settlement in Samora Machel, Cape Town.
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Residents said the victims, believed to be close friends aged between 19 and 20, had been drinking together before going home. Moments later, flames engulfed their shack, trapping them inside.
Community leader Lonwabo Jako, who is also a neighbour, said residents woke up to screams and the sight of thick smoke rising from the area.
“At around 3am we heard that there was a fire. We rushed to wake up other people, but others could not wake up. It was during the fire that we lost three people in a shack fire,” said Jako.
He said the community suspects the fire might have been caused by a stove that was left on.
“They only had a two-burner stove in the shack. We suspect that a blanket came into contact with the stove which caused the fire. That is the understanding we have as leaders,” he said.
Jako said about eight homes were affected but praised firefighters for their quick response, which prevented the blaze from spreading further.
Community suspects a stove left on caused the blaze that trapped the friends inside their home.
Ward 88 Councillor Zukisani Sophazi described the tragedy as heartbreaking.
He said the community is still reeling from the loss and waiting for confirmation on what caused the fire.
“This incident has left our community devastated. We are still trying to establish the cause, but from what we know, the victims didn’t cook on that day,” said Sophazi.
City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed the incident.
“The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at around 03:05 this morning, 6 October, of informal structures alight in Kosovo Informal Settlement, in Philippi. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze by 4:30am.
“Our initial estimate is that six structures were destroyed, leaving 14 persons displaced. The bodies of three persons, gender and ages unknown, were discovered at around 04:20 with fatal burn wounds,” said Carelse.
The scene was handed over to the police for investigation.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said: “When police arrived at about 07:00, they found the bodies of the three victims who sustained fatal burn wounds.”
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“Two victims were aged 19 and 20, while the age of the third victim is yet to be determined. They were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.”
Police have opened an inquest docket and appealed to anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app anonymously.
