Tragic Langa fire claims mother and her three children, including twins

A predawn blaze in Langa claimed the lives of a mother and her three young children — two of them twin babies, as multiple fires ripped through Cape Town’s informal settlements over the weekend.

Siyahlahla community leader Andisa Velaphi said residents woke to chaos and tragedy.

“Early this morning, I was called by one of my neighbours who told me there was a fire in the community. We rushed to the scene to find many shacks that had burned down. Sadly, a mother and her three young children passed away. It really is heartbreaking.”

Velaphi said the cause was still unclear. “The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but we suspect she may have knocked over a candle… However, at this stage, we really don’t know.”

Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said crews responded just after 4am in Siyahlahla, Langa, where firefighters battled to contain the blaze until 6:30am.

“Initial estimates are that 15 structures were destroyed, leaving several displaced. Sadly, an adult female (mother) and three minors (genders unknown) were found with fatal burn wounds under the debris. The South African Police Service will investigate the circumstances around this incident.”

Other major fires kept crews stretched throughout the weekend.

In Heather Park, Eerste River, firefighters fought a fire that spread from informal structures to nearby formal dwellings. Carelse said nine structures were destroyed and two houses were partially damaged. No injuries were reported and the cause remains unknown.

In Fisantekraal, firefighters extinguished a blaze that destroyed several structures. No injuries were reported and the cause is undetermined.

In Dunoon’s Newlands informal settlement, a fire claimed the life of a young girl. “The body of a female minor was found with fatal burn wounds."

In Nomzamo, nearly 60 firefighters battled through the night to contain a large blaze fanned by strong winds. Carelse said, “It is incredibly disappointing that Firefighters were once again subjected to an unruly crowd – some of whom set about cutting some of the fire hoses. Two firefighters were injured in the course of fighting the fire – one of them was taken to a nearby medical facility. No other injuries were reported, and the cause is unknown.”

In Vukuzenzele informal settlement in Nyanga, several structures were destroyed and more than 50 people were displaced. No injuries were reported and the cause is unknown.

Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Sonica Lategan said assessments across the affected communities had been completed.

“In Vukuzenzele Informal Settlement… 47 persons were affected and 22 structures destroyed. No damage to municipal infrastructure was recorded. In Zwe Zwe Storage Site IFS, Dunoon, 28 persons were affected and in Fisantekraal, 37 persons were affected.”

She said SASSA, the Department of Social Development, the City’s Informal Settlements Management Branch and Solid Waste had been notified to provide relief and clear debris.

A Joint Operations Centre has been established in Nomzamo. “185 structures were destroyed by fire, determining that 336 people have been affected by this incident.”

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