Loadshedding has been blamed for the fire that killed an entire family early Monday morning. An 8-month-old baby and her parents died in the fire in Fisantekraal, just outside Durbanville.
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Seven shacks were demolished at the corner of Saartjie Baartman and Tambo streets.
David Bailon (23), his wife Namhla Nozombile, 20, and their baby daughter Zenazi died when they were unable to escape the flames.
Community spokesperson Elaine Hartzenberg said that she received a call for assistance shortly after midnight.
She told the Cape Argus that when she arrived, people were saying the fire was caused by a candle that fell over and that the family was using the candle because it was loadshedding and Bailon didn’t want to sit with the baby in the dark.
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It is alleged that Bailon fell asleep and that the candle had fallen over while the shack had been chained and padlocked from the inside.
‘Another man was badly burnt and our councillor Chubani Kobeni rushed with him to Tygerberg Hospital. We hope he survives this ordeal,’ she added.
Jermaine Carelse, a City Fire and Rescue spokesperson, confirmed the incident.
‘Three persons died in a fire in Fisantekraal in the early hours of this morning, Monday.’
‘By 2:30am, firefighters extinguished the blaze that destroyed six informal structures and left several persons displaced.
‘Sadly a man, woman and a minor (gender unknown), who sustained fatal burn wounds, were discovered under the debris.
‘Furthermore, an adult male sustained 30% burn wounds and was treated and transported to a nearby medical facility.
‘The cause of the fire is still unknown pending an investigation from the SAPS.’
According to police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi, Durbanville police have registered an inquest to conduct further investigation.
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