Neighbours watch helplessly as women burn to death

Neighbours watched helplessly as two women burnt to death on Saturday, January 30.

Ayanda Duma (21) from Newcastle and Lindiwe Minya (27) from the Eastern Cape died after a fire broke out at the house where they were renting a room.

The house is located along 6th Avenue in Bez Valley.

It is believed the fire broke out in the women’s room.

According to neighbours, the fire started at about 4:30am.

According to eyewitnesses, the women tried to escape the blaze but were unable to as they were trapped inside the room, behind a locked security gate.

Neighbours told the EXPRESS they saw Ms Duma at the locked security door and heard her screams for help. Attempts to locate keys to unlock the locked security gate were unsuccessful.

It has been further alleged that firefighters arrived at the scene late.

“Those allegations, according to our knowledge, are unfounded. We attended to the fire as quickly as we could and handled the situation as best we could,” said the EMS spokesperson Mr Robert Mulaudzi.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and investigations are continuing.

Other occupants of the premises were able to escape but lost all their belongings in the fire.

Disaster management was notified and urged to assist survivors with food, blankets and shelter.