Family of four die in Hangberg blaze

Published Apr 20, 2015

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Cape Town - Raymond Martin finished his shift as a metered taxi driver at 2am on Sunday and made his way home.

The 49-year-old father walked up Sentinel Hill to join his sleeping family in their shack in Salamander Road, Hangberg, near Hout Bay. He then lay down and fell asleep with his family.

Less than half an hour later, their makeshift house of wood and iron plates was engulfed in flames, and minutes later the family of four were dead.

The Cape Times visited the scene early on Sunday and

neighbours stood pale with shock, with mouths agape, as they took in the macabre scene.

Rodney Abrahams, 33, who lived next door, tried in vain to rescue Martin, Sophia de Wee, 48, and the couple’s two sons, Ramone, 12, and 10-year-old Monray.

“I was asleep, but my puppy started biting me and I woke up. There was smoke and flames everywhere. I took what I could and ran outside. There was fire and people running around everywhere,” Abrahams said.

“We noticed that Raymond and his family were missing and saw that their house was still closed. I tried to kick the door down, but it didn’t budge. It was sealed shut.”

When the forensic unit lifted the family’s bodies on to stretchers, the corpses appeared to be locked in an embrace. Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said a friend of the family had lived underneath the house, which was built on stilts. “He left a candle burning and it fell over. That’s what started the fire. He ran away, but the family all died,” she said.

De Wee’s sister, Mary de Wee, who lives nearby, was too distraught to speak on Sunday.

Neighbours offered support as De Wee wailed uncontrollably when the forensic unit removed the bodies. Disaster Risk Management spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said the fire destroyed 13 structures and left 58 people homeless.

“The displaced are being taking care of at Hangberg Community Hall. The SA Red Cross will provide hot meals and blankets and the human settlements department will provide fire kits to rebuild houses,” she said.

Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said: “We are investigating.”

Another blaze in Langa on Friday night left 100 people displaced.

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