Ntando Sibanyoni, who suffered from epilepsy and did not attend school, died yesterday afternoon when his home in Simelani Street, Extension 23, Ratanda went up in flames. His body was found under his bed where he seems to have been trying to hide from the flames.
His grandmother just went to an outside room when she heard Ntando’s six-year-old brother screaming for help at around 17:10. By then the shack was already engulfed in flames. The flames were at the front door when the grandmother managed to drag the six-year-old to safety.
According to bystanders, the fire spread through the whole house in a matter of seconds and their attempts to extinguish it with water were to no avail.
The grandmother and six-year-old were taken to Heidelberg Hospital for smoke inhalation and was released on the same night.
Lesedi Fire and Rescue Services and Ratanda police will investigate the incident.
