Cape Town - A man has been arrested in connection with a fire at a house in Wynberg on Tuesday night that caused the death of two people.
Kristal Smith, from Parkwood, was found dead in a Ross Road residence. A Somali man, Muhammad Gadaan Abdulahi, who was also in the burning house, died later in hospital.
Another Somalian, Ali Bashe, 42, was arrested on Wednesday. Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed the incident.
“A female and a male were fatally injured after a fire at premises in Ross Road, Wynberg,” she said. “A case of arson and murder has been opened, and the incident is being investigated. A 42-year-old man has been arrested and is due to appear in court on Friday.”
Fire and Rescue Services’ spokesman Theo Layne said firefighters responded to a call at 11.35pm on Tuesday.
“Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a double-storey house on fire in Ross Road, Wynberg. The fire seemed to have started in one of the bedrooms. The exact cause could not be determined.
“One adult woman had died in the bedroom. Three adult males were treated for burn wounds, and one adult woman for smoke inhalation.
“The four victims were treated on the scene and taken to hospital,” said Layne.
When the Cape Times visited the scene on Wednesday, a pool of blood could still be seen on the pavement.
ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring said paramedics arrived on the scene and found three men lying on the pavement.
“Two of them had sustained severe burn injuries to most of their bodies.
“The third man had sustained moderate burn injuries to his back.
“Paramedics treated the patients and provided advanced life support before they were transported to hospital,” said Meiring.
Neighbours Morita Appolis, 43, and Rochelle Inners, 39, who live on the property in wendy houses, say they witnessed the incident.
“Kristal was in a relationship with Gadaan, but she was also seeing Ali,” said Appolis.
“Ali found out about them seeing each other yesterday (Tuesday) and it upset him. Kristal and Gadaan were drinking together in the house all day.
“The three of them had an argument later that night and then Ali left and went to watch the soccer.
“He went back there after the game and I’m not sure what then happened,” she said.
Inners said she had seen smoke at about 11.30pm on the night.
“When I came outside, the house was on fire. I saw Gadaan and the others running out screaming. They fell to the ground,” she said.
Cape Times