Shack fire kills five

ORANGE FARM. – A dark cloud covered Orange Farm residents on Sunday morning when they discovered that five youngsters died in a fire.
Mduduzi Magagula (3) was found burnt beyond recognition. He was the youngest among the deceased. Tshepo Magagula (7), Nkululeko Magugala (6), Busisiwe Magaguala (8) and the oldest, Lilian Magagula (17) were all burnt to death when their shack caught fire.
The incident happened in the early hours of the morning. Johannesburg Emergency Services confirmed number of children killed by the fire.
Apparently there were no adults present at the time and Police tried to establish whether the children lived alone, and if the 17-year-old was raising the little ones, or whether their parents were away.
Captain Johannes Motsiri, police spokesperson confirmed that an inquest has been opened. “On preliminary investigations we found that all five children were deceased as declared by the emergency personnel.
The cause of the fire is still a mystery. A full report from the Fire Department and the Police investigative team still has to be made,” says Motsiri.
He added that no other shacks were destroyed by the fire.
Ster spoke to Emfuleni Station Officer Elizabeth Mateki about shack fires. She pleads with communities, especially the most vulnerable who live in shacks and informal settlements around the city, to be very careful with their heating and lighting, especially candles and paraffin stoves.
“Don’t leave them unattended, even for a few minutes,” says Mateki.