Cape Town - Two people, including an infant, have died and 26 residents were displaced after a Lotus River house they were living in caught fire in the early hours of Monday morning.
A 31-year-old man and a seven-month-old baby died on the scene and eight other people were rushed to hospital.
About 28 people, including children, were staying in the three-room house on the corner of Ferndal Street, authorities said.
A witness, Gift Njanje, said the fire had started in the garage passage.
“I heard people screaming that there was fire. I woke up and quickly tried to run outside but I couldn’t go out because the fire was already all over the place. We tried to break the ceiling boards to take out women and children. It was dark, and we couldn’t see where we were going because there was too much smoke.
"I am really sad and confused right now. It is so painful to experience this, especially now with two weeks to go to Christmas,” said Njanje.
Achmed Lisheikh, a relative of the owner of the house, said he felt sorry for the families, especially for those who had lost their loved ones.
“We were not aware that so many people were staying in the house. We only knew of three families, and were surprised when we heard that there were six families living in the house,” said Lisheikh.
Neighbour Igsaan Dramat, whose house was also damaged, said: “When I woke up, I thought it was my house burning because there was heat everywhere. The fire was already (spreading to) the carport but luckily we managed to move our cars in time. I feel sorry for my neighbours, I can imagine the pain they are going through right now.”
Ward 65 councillor Patricia van der Ross said the fire could have been caused by an electrical fault.
“The mother of the baby was seriously injured while trying to save the baby from the fire,” she said.
Liezl Moodie of the city’s Fire and Rescue Service said the matter had been handed over to the police for investigation.
“The city’s Disaster Risk Management Centre finalised its assessment yesterday. It has activated the South African Red Cross Society to provide humanitarian relief to the 26 people who have been displaced by the fire,” she said.
Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut confirmed that a death inquest case docket had been registered and that the circumstances were being investigated.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined,” he said.