Police have opened an inquest following the deaths of four-year-old twin boys in a shack fire that broke out in the Zamimpilo informal settlement south of Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The boys’ mother, who remains unemployed and has lived in the settlement since 2014 in search of work, had briefly stepped outside to collect firewood planks used for cooking when the blaze started. Upon returning, she found the shack engulfed in flames with her children trapped inside. She attempted to enter but was driven back by the intense heat and flames.
A male neighbour entered the burning structure to help and sustained serious burns. He is currently receiving treatment in hospital. Emergency medical services (EMS) determined that the twins died from smoke inhalation.
The fire destroyed or damaged approximately six to ten shacks in the area. Residents have begun rebuilding, but the mother is appealing for public assistance to cover mortuary costs and the burial of her children.
The incident has highlighted ongoing risks in informal settlements during winter, including the dangers of open fires for cooking amid rising fuel prices such as paraffin. Authorities and emergency services have previously urged residents to take precautions against shack fires.
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