Michael Nkalane
FOUR members of the Ndesi family, including three children, died when their shack was allegedly petrol-bombed early yesterday morning.
The police are investigating charges of murder.
The fire spread to a neighbouring shack, which was extinguished by the fire department.
Ncumisa Ndesi, 30, her daughter Tamara, 13, and Ndesi’s nephews, Lisa, 13, and Qhama, 8, died in the blaze.
Lisa and Qhama’s mother, Neziswa Ndesi, was not home at the time.
Yesterday, neighbours described how they battled in vain to quell the fire.
They were woken by screams and rushed out to help. Even though there was water, they were unable to douse the blaze, they said.
This is the second case in the area of people being burnt to death.
Last week teenagers Adalaine Bruiners, 15, and an unidentified young man were burnt to death in Wallacedene.
Police are still investigating their murders.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the K9-detection dog unit indicated that “flammables” were used at the front door of the shack.
He said after forensic samples were collected for analysis, four charges of murder were registered at the Kraaifontein police station
He said two shacks, on the corners of Japhta and Dlayedwa streets, Bloekombos, Kraaifontein, were set alight.
Fire spokesperson Theo Layne said firefighters arrived at 5.30am, with two fire engines, a rescue vehicle and a tanker tackling the blaze.
He said the bodies were found inside the home.
“It is suspected that a heating device may have been the cause. However, this remains undetermined,” Layne added.
Thembela Ntayi said: “I was still sleeping at about 4.30am when I heard her screaming. When I went out, the fire was already out of control.
“We tried to extinguish it with water, but realised later that we were making it worse. We were left with no option but to watch helplessly as bodies were burnt inside a shack.”
He said he has never seen such a huge fire in his life. “There was no way they were going to survive it. It was beyond control. That fire was for experienced firefighters.”
Another neighbour, Khiba Tshepisang, said he jumped out of bed and went straight to the fire to help.
He said they had tried to use a crowbar to force open a “burglar door” to get in.
“I will never forget what I saw when we finally got in. Those four lifeless bodies will forever be in my mind.
“Qhama and Lisa suffocated and died on the bed. Ncumisa and Tamara at least tried to crawl and died closer to the door.
“I have never seen four bodies in one room in my life.
“This family has suffered a lot. Imagine having to bury four people at the same time.”