A 16-year-old girl was burnt to death on 19 November after a shack she was in, caught fire.
The teenager was in the shack with her grandfather and younger brother when it caught fire.
According to Zandspruit ward councillor Victor Mafinya, the girl was in a separate room when the incident occurred.
“It was on Sunday at around 10pm when the neighbours noticed the fire. They quickly rescued the grandfather and little brother but the teenager was forgotten. The neighbours quickly fought the fire, which had already destroyed the shack, and got it under control,” said Mafinya.
Neighbours stopped the fire but noticed that one spot still had small flames that could not be doused completely. When they removed the zinc sheets around the fire, they realised it was the burning body of the teenager.
Mafinya said they were at a loss to explain how the fire started as the family did not use illegal connections and candles for power and lights. The family used firewood to cook their food.
“Now we are working hard to assist the family rebuild their home. The family of nine only rely on the grandfather for financial assistance as none of the family members are employed. I had to take some of my own zinc sheets on my roof to give to the family. The mother of the deceased and the deceased do not have an ID or birth certificate, which complicates matters.”
This is the second fire to hit the informal settlement in a space of a month. Just one week earlier, a woman died in hospital of severe burns after her shack caught fire. The fire occurred just after midnight and was spotted by neighbours who stopped it.
“We need as much assistance as we can for the families affected. We, as a community, are helping as much as we can but we need more to ensure the families are taken care of during such tough times.”
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Details: Councillor, Victor Mafinya 072 447 9203.
