The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs says investigations are underway to determine the cause of a deadly shack fire that claimed the lives of five children in Shakas Head, near KwaDukuza.
Disaster management officials said the blaze broke out on Saturday morning. Emergency teams arrived to find the structure already engulfed in flames.
The victims included one-year-old twins, a three-year-old child, and two teenagers aged 14 and 19.
MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, accompanied by senior representatives from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, visited the grieving family on Sunday to offer support and assess the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Buthelezi pledged that government would assist the family with funeral arrangements, including transporting the children’s remains to the Eastern Cape where necessary, and covering burial costs to ensure dignified send-offs.
He added that authorities are working with other departments to prevent similar incidents. Plans are underway to expand the installation of smoke detector alarms in homes, a programme already implemented in eThekwini.
The alarms are intended to provide early warnings and alert neighbours quickly, improving response times during emergencies.
Investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
A heartbreaking reminder that, sometimes, seconds make all the difference and a small alarm can save a life.