Woman taken in for questioning over deadly Khayelitsha shack fire

Eight people died in a shack fire in Khayelitsha on Monday morning. Photo: Phandulwazi Jikelo / ANA

Eight people died in a shack fire in Khayelitsha on Monday morning. Photo: Phandulwazi Jikelo / ANA

Published May 7, 2018

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Cape Town - Police on Monday night confirmed that a 21-year-old woman has been taken in for questioning in connection with a shack fire that killed eight people, among them children, and left many others displaced in Khayelitsha.

A massive blaze broke out in Taiwan informal settlement in the early hours of Monday, leaving four adults and four minors dead and 22 others displaced as a result.

The fire also saw four informal structures destroyed as a result. 

“The City’s fire and rescue services responded to Taiwan informal settlement just after 1:30 on Monday morning where 4 informal structures were destroyed leaving 22 people displaced,” said Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Theo Layne.

ALSO READ: 8 killed, 22 displaced in Khayelitsha shack fire

The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

Western Cape police spokesperson FC van Wyk in a statement confirmed the arrest of the woman following the incident. 

“ An arson and inquest case were registered earlier on Monday at about 3:40pm after three shacks burned down  in Idada Street, Taiwan informal settlement, Site C, Khayelitsha. A 21 year old female has been taken in for questioning,” van Wyk said. 

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Cape Argus

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