Cape Town - A mother and her 16-month-old baby boy died in an early morning fire on Wednesday in 14th Street, Kensington.
The City's Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted at about 2.50am that a structure was on fire and a family was trapped inside.
The City said crews from Epping, Brooklyn and Milnerton were on the scene and found the bodies of the 32-year-old mother and the 16-month-old baby boy, who had succumbed to fatal burn wounds.
"By 4:30am, firefighters had managed to extinguish the blaze that destroyed the structure and left three persons displaced.
"The cause of the fire is unknown, and the scene was handed over to the South African Police Service," the City said.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has urged residents in informal settlements and backyard dwellings to practice fire safety during the festive period.
The department said cigarette butts, fire lighters, matches, candles, illegal and overloaded electrical connections, and heating appliances such as paraffin stoves could be lethal if not properly monitored.
MEC of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers said: “The Western Cape is often marked by devastating fires during a time of the year that should be marked with happiness and joy in our communities. The extent of the fires only varies based on the density of an area and the ability of emergency vehicles to gain access to the affected area of an informal settlement.
“These fires are largely caused by open flame sources and overloaded illegal electrical connections. Residents can assist to prevent these unfortunate incidences by being prepared, vigilant and practising safety measures. Some preparation is always better than dealing with a crisis, particularly during this time of the year.”
Cape Times