Shack fires in eMbalenhle claim three lives
George Siphesihle Nkambule (21) and Ntombizonke Thandiwe Dlamini (21) died in their shack on 28 July while Sifiso Xutsha (14) who was critically injured on August 1 died this week.
Young lovers George Siphesihle Nkambule (21) and Ntombizonke Thandiwe Dlamini (21) perished when their shack caught fire in Ext 17, eMbalenhle on July 28.
Siphesihle’s aunt, Precious Nkambule, said to Ridge Times, the night before the fire broke out, Siphesihle and Thandiwe were chilling in their shack, going in and out to buy liquor.
“Everyone went to sleep because it was already late. Around 02:00, my 11-year-old son looked through the window and noticed a fire. He woke us up.”
Nkambule said by that time, the flames were lapping at the main house and they vacated their house.
“We noticed Siphesihle’s shack room was on fire and called for help. The community tried to extinguish the blaze until the firefighters arrived, but we failed to save their lives.
“We are still in shock about what had happened. We also do not yet know the cause of the fire,” said Nkambule.
Constable Busi Mthethwa said an inquest docket was opened by the eMbalenhle police after the officers were summoned to the shack fire.
Mthethwa said the officers found on arrival firefighters busy fighting the fire. After extinguishing the fire and checking the shack, the officers found two bodies.
Mthethwa said the officers summoned all role players to the scene where the two people were certified dead. He confirmed the family identified the deceased as George Nkambule and Thandiwe Dlamini (21).
The couple left behind their four-year-old son boy.
* In another shack fire on the morning of August 1, Sifiso Xutsha (14) from Ext 22, was critically injured
The teenager sustained severe burns.
According to Elias Jiyane, Sfiso’s father, they suspect that the fire that destroyed their home started by a heater at his son’s bedroom.
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Jiyane said Sfiso’s mother and his sister were the first to escape the fire.
“Sfiso crawled out of the house that was hulled in flames. He collapsed and we called an ambulance that took him to Evander Hospital.”
Jiyane then took his child to the Mediclinic Highveld from where the doctor transferred Sfiso to a private hospital in Alberton.
Sfiso died in hospital yesterday.
