Bonteheuwel family dies in fire ‘crying for help’

FOUR children and their parents died screaming for help as a fire engulfed their four-bedroom Bonteheuwel home.

The Benette family – Dylene, 1, Chadley, 2, Chadwin, 9, Florence, 25, Gail, 20, Benette and Edwin Adams, 11 – died in Netreg Road just after 2am yesterday.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Liezl Moodie, said they responded to a house fire at 2.37am.

“As a result of the fire, two adult females and four male minors died of fatal burn wounds. The fire also left six persons displaced.

“The cause of the fire is still undetermined,’’ she said.

Relatives said a candle the family used at night might have caused the fire, which reportedly started in the living room before spreading throughout the house.

Gail’s boyfriend, Darryl Botha, said they all died crying for help.

“But we could not save them. The heat was too strong. We all tried to get in, but nobody could enter and rescue them.

“We just stood there waiting for firefighters.”

Little Dylene’s grandmother, Belinda Botha, said she was woken by the neighbours crying out for help.

“When we arrived, it was too late. The fire had already spread throughout the house.

“What made the situation worse was the slow response from the firefighters.

“It took them about two hours to arrive. They were all gone then. This is very tragic to the family.”

Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) spokesperson Sihle Ngobese said they were rendering psycho-social support and other assistance to the remaining family members.

“This tragic incident has left the remaining family members and neighbours deeply affected.

“The department has dispatched social workers from our Metro North regional office to conduct trauma and bereavement counselling.”

He said the DSD Social Relief of Distress programme would also provide any needed support, such as food, clothing and a temporary grant to assist the family.

“Social Development MEC Albert Fritz will visit the family today to express his condolences.

“As we head into summer, generally seen as the ‘fire season’ due to the higher incidence of fires, DSD will continue to render support services to affected families and communities.”