Rustenburg - The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) on Tuesday reacted to the death of six members of one family in a shack fire in Deelpan near Sannieshof, by calling for the urgent removal of such informal settlements.
Sanco, which urged local government to provide proper houses, also called for the acceleration of the rural electrification programm to put an end to such tragedies.
Michael Mogale‚ 23‚ Mokatse Mogale‚ 22‚ Shepang Mogale‚ 10‚ and their two cousins‚ Bokamoso Mogale‚ 8‚ and Lerato Mogale, 5‚ burned to death when their shack caught alight in the early hours of Sunday while they were asleep.
“We are distraught by the heartbreaking losses and wish to convey our condolences to the Mogale family, relatives, friends as well as the entire Deelpan community that is in mourning. No one deserves to die such frightful and painful deaths,” said Sanco provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe.
“The informal settlement eradication and rural electrification programmes have to be accelerated to reduce such harrowing incidents,” Sebegoe said.
Five other members of the affected family survived. Two of them were admitted at Gelukspan Hospital, while three others escaped any injuries.
It was believed the fire might have been caused by a lit candle or a paraffin stove.
African News Agency