By Sbongile Sokela
A heart-wrenching tragedy struck the Marikana Informal Settlement in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni, in the early hours of Monday, May 26, when a devastating shack fire claimed the lives of six family members. The only survivor, a seven-year-old girl, is currently fighting for her life in a local hospital after sustaining severe burn injuries.
The victims include a 47-year-old father, a 42-year-old mother, and their four children aged 1.5, 4, 12, and 20 years. The family of seven was asleep in their four-roomed shack when the fire broke out around 3:00 AM.
Emergency services were alerted at 03:08 AM and responded swiftly. Upon arrival, firefighters found the shack fully engulfed in flames, with desperate community members trying to contain the blaze. Despite their efforts, the fire tragically consumed the entire structure.
According to witnesses, loud noises were heard shortly before the fire was noticed.
“I heard loud banging and immediately thought there was a fight outside,” said Class Mabena, a neighbor and close friend of the family. “When I rushed out, I realized someone was banging from inside the shack. The gate was locked, so I grabbed something to break the lock.”
The victims’ bodies were burned beyond recognition, and authorities may need DNA testing to formally identify them. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and an investigation is underway.
This heartbreaking incident highlights the ongoing danger faced by residents of informal settlements, where fires can spread rapidly due to densely packed structures, limited emergency access, and a lack of proper infrastructure.
As the community mourns, the tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for fire safety interventions, better housing conditions, and long-term solutions for vulnerable communities.
