Another Life Lost: Winter Shack Fires Devastate Tshwane Communities

A third fire in July claims the life of a six-year-old, fuelling concerns over fire safety in informal settlements

The chill of winter has brought more than just cold winds to Tshwane, it has brought yet another tragedy. A six-year-old child has died in a shack fire in Mamelodi, the third such incident in the city this month, pushing the death toll from informal settlement fires in July to seven.

As temperatures drop, the scramble for warmth often ends in heartbreak and once again, it has.

Late Night Blaze Rips Through Shacks in Mamelodi

City of Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Zwelithini Mnguni confirmed the heartbreaking incident, which took place on Sunday night. At 9:33 PM, emergency responders were called to a fire consuming three shacks in Mamelodi.

Crews from the nearby fire station arrived quickly, managing to contain the blaze before it could spread to a nearby home and additional dwellings. But the fire had already taken a fatal toll.

“Firefighters found the lifeless body of a child inside one of the shacks,” Mnguni said solemnly.

Six other tenants managed to escape, including another child who sustained minor burns and was treated at the scene before being taken to the Stanza Bopape Clinic.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Recurring Tragedy: A Deadly Pattern This Winter

This is not an isolated incident. In fact, it’s becoming a grim pattern.

On 11 July, five people, including three minors, perished in Olievenhoutbosch when a four-roomed shack went up in flames. That fire left an entire family devastated and a community in mourning.

Just days before that, on 1 July, a two-year-old died when a candle reportedly ignited the tent his family was sleeping in on a Pretoria smallholding.

With three fires in less than a month, many are asking: what more can be done?

A Deadly Mix: Cold Weather and Unsafe Heating

Every winter in South Africa, shack fires claim lives, often the lives of the most vulnerable. The combination of overcrowded informal settlements, makeshift wiring, candles, and open flames becomes a lethal mix when people try to stay warm through bitterly cold nights.

AfriForum’s disaster management specialist Tarien Cooks has warned that winter is always a dangerous time for fire outbreaks. “People rely on candles, paraffin stoves, and unsafe heaters. It’s not just about the cold, it’s about a lack of safe infrastructure.”

A Silent Crisis in Plain Sight

In places like Mamelodi, Olievenhoutbosch, and Grootvlei, the architecture of poverty is flammable, literally. Fires spread quickly in densely packed areas with no formal electrical supply, narrow pathways, and limited access for emergency vehicles.

On social media, residents and advocacy groups are calling for immediate intervention. Some are demanding more frequent fire safety patrols, while others are urging the government to speed up the rollout of basic services like electricity and housing upgrades.

“Another child gone. Another family broken. When will the state act?” read one viral tweet from a Mamelodi youth activist.

Where to From Here?

The City of Tshwane’s EMS has once again urged communities to be extra vigilant. But the plea has become all too familiar. Fire safety campaigns and cold-weather warnings are not enough when families still rely on candles and paraffin to survive.

South Africa’s housing crisis continues to expose children to preventable danger. Until informal settlements receive the infrastructure they deserve, winter will remain a deadly season for many.

And for the family in Mamelodi now grieving their child, no fire warning can undo the loss.

If you live in an informal settlement and need fire safety advice or emergency numbers, contact your local municipality’s disaster management unit or the City of Tshwane EMS on 107 (from a landline) or 012 358 6300.

{Source: The Citizen}

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