Police trying to find family of dead woman
Residents homeless as fire razes 50 shacks
An 85-year-old woman died in a fire that erupted on Saturday night in Denver informal settlement in Johannesburg.
Residents alleged that a couple’s argument may have started the fire.
One of the residents, Musa Shandu, said the elderly woman lived alone and her neighbours were unaware of where her family is.
City of Johannesburg Emergency Services’ spokeswoman Nana Radebe said they had not yet discovered the woman’s identity and were thus unable to find her family.
Police Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said an inquest into the death had been opened but that they were unaware of the allegations of possible arson.
“I urge anyone who has information on these allegations to go and provide this information to the police,” he said.
Shandu and her two young children were homeless yesterday because of the fire that ravaged more than 50 shacks.
“All I have left is this gown I’m wearing. My child has no nappies and we haven’t eaten all day,” she said.
Shandu said she was trying to rebuild her shack but was worried about the leftover smoke that could be inhaled by her children. “It is winter and we have nothing. Uniforms and birth certificates are burnt,” she said.
NGOs arrived on the scene and provided one blanket, a tin of fish, a packet of tea and 5kg of maize meal for each individual family. “I have two children and we only have one blanket. I have nowhere to cook this food, what must I do?” said Shandu.
Melusi Ngobese, who lost his shack in the fire, said the couple who was alleged to have caused the fire have disappeared. “They are always drinking and arguing. We have looked for them but they must have left soon after it started,” he said.
Mxolisi Dlamini, a porter at Johannesburg Park Station, said he would be staying with a friend in the Denver Hostel after he lost his shack and belongings in the fire.
“I buy food for the month, I have nothing now. I’ll have to borrow money from someone to find material to rebuild my shack. We need help. We are crying for help,” Dlamini said.
Radebe said: “Investigations to the cause of the fire are under way but it is alleged that a couple was fighting and that a candle may have fallen and started the fire. Disaster management has been on the scene to register people to provide assistance with the help of NGOs.”