Man engulfed by flames in shack while frying eggs

Cape Town- The remains of a shack fire in Gugulethu bare the scares of a tragic lose. Mawethu Pani [32] was killed in the blaze, after the paraffin sove caught alight. Family members & friends gather outside the home as they mourne his death. His sister Nomabhelu Pani & brother Levi Pani speak of fond memories of their brother during this grieving process. Reporter: Gadeejah A, Photo: Ross Jansen

Cape Town- The remains of a shack fire in Gugulethu bare the scares of a tragic lose. Mawethu Pani [32] was killed in the blaze, after the paraffin sove caught alight. Family members & friends gather outside the home as they mourne his death. His sister Nomabhelu Pani & brother Levi Pani speak of fond memories of their brother during this grieving process. Reporter: Gadeejah A, Photo: Ross Jansen

Published May 30, 2016

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Cape Town - The family of a Gugulethu man is grieving after he was killed while trapped in his burning shack on Sunday morning.

Mawethu Pani, 32, was frying eggs on his two-plate stove when oil ignited and caused a fire that engulfed his home at 2.50am, his family said.

His sister, Nomabhelu Pani, 37, said she and her mother, who lived next door, were listening to his screams of anguish and initially thought he was being robbed.

“We saw the flames. We kicked down the door and saw him lying on the floor trying to get out,” she said.

Residents and his younger brother, Abongile Pani, 22, tried to brave the flames in an attempt to drag the man to safety, only to sustain serious burns.

Nomabhelu said Abongile had been badly burnt on his back, torso, legs and part of his face in his effort to save his brother. He is recovering in Tygerberg Hospital.

Residents doused the flames with buckets of water until the city council’s fire and rescue services arrived.

Nomabhelu refused to look at the body of her dead brother and chose to think of him as a bright salesman who “put a smile on everyone's face”.

“He was a lovable person and also the breadwinner of the family. He loved children and was a happy man,” she said.

Their mother, Novumile Pani, 53, could not find the words to express the pain she was experiencing.

She sat surrounded by family members who were dressed in traditional black attire to mourn Mawethu’s death.

His brother, Levi Pani, 37, said the family were relieved that Mawethu’s two daughters, aged 12 and 7, were with their mother at the time of the fire.

Everything inside the small shack was burnt to ashes, which concerned the family who is trying to make funeral arrangements.

Levi said: “I will always miss my brother; he was a good person with a big heart.”

The council’s fire and rescue services spokesman, Theo Layne said the probable cause of the fire was undetermined.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel André Traut confirmed a case was being investigated and a death inquest docket was registered.

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Cape Argus

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