Two die in Cape shack fires

A resident of the Hadji Ebrahim informal settlement died early yesterday morning when a shack was gutted. A second shack also burned down in the blaze. Picture: Leon Knipe

A resident of the Hadji Ebrahim informal settlement died early yesterday morning when a shack was gutted. A second shack also burned down in the blaze. Picture: Leon Knipe

Published Nov 29, 2015

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Two men died in shack fires early on Saturday.

In one blaze two shacks were gutted in the Hadji Ebrahim informal settlement, Rylands.

A resident died and it was feared his partner had also been killed in the flames, but it was later discovered she was safe.

The fire was reported at the Athlone police station where an inquest has been opened into the resident’s death.

Weekend Argus understands it is suspected a man was under the influence of alcohol and fell asleep, forgetting a lit candle was near him.

It is believed the candle ignited substances in the shack, leading to the fire.

A second fire occurred in Ilitha Park, Khayelitsha. The City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said a man had also been killed in that blaze.

Four shacks were razed.

On Saturday the city’s fire and rescue services spokesman Theo Layne said the causes of the fires had not yet been determined.

Sunday Argus

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