Heartbreak in Etwatwa: Family of Five, Including Two Learners, Perish in Shack Fire

A Night of Fire and Loss in Etwatwa

A quiet Sunday night in Etwatwa’s Steve Biko informal settlement turned into an unthinkable tragedy when a shack fire claimed the lives of a family of five, two schoolchildren, a toddler, and their parents.

According to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), the victims included a 17-year-old Grade 11 girl from Dr Harry Gwala Secondary School, her 11-year-old brother from Thembelihle Primary School, their one-year-old sister, and both their parents.

What began as an ordinary evening ended in heartbreak when the family became trapped inside their five-roomed home as flames consumed it.

Firefighters’ Desperate Response

Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson William Ntladi said firefighters received an emergency call shortly before midnight.

“DEMS firefighters received a call close to 12am for a shack fire at Steve Biko Informal Settlement, Etwatwa. The responding team found a five-roomed shack three bedrooms, kitchen, and dining room fully engulfed by flames, with people trapped inside,” said Ntladi.

By the time the flames were extinguished, it was too late. The fire had claimed all five lives.

Schools in Mourning

On Monday morning, school principals and GDE officials visited the site to comfort grieving neighbours and gather more details from the lone survivor and family members.

The tragedy has left Dr Harry Gwala Secondary and Thembelihle Primary in mourning. Both schools have described the learners as “bright, kind, and full of potential.”

The department confirmed that psychosocial support teams will visit the schools to offer grief counselling and emotional support to learners, teachers, and community members.

“The GDE extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and encourages communities to unite in offering compassion and support during this period of mourning,” the department said in a statement.

‘A Heartbreaking Loss’ – MEC Matome Chiloane

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed deep sorrow, describing the tragedy as “devastating beyond words.”

“We are heartbroken by the loss of such young lives and their parents. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, their friends, and the school communities during this painful time,” said Chiloane. “We will continue to provide support where it’s needed.”

A Broader Reflection on Informal Settlement Fires

Sadly, this is not an isolated tragedy. Fires in informal settlements often caused by faulty electrical connections, paraffin stoves, or unattended candles, remain a recurring danger across South Africa’s townships.

In areas like Etwatwa, where electricity access is limited and homes are built close together, one spark can turn into an inferno within minutes. Each fire leaves behind a trail of grief families displaced, lives lost, and communities struggling to recover.

Social media has been flooded with messages of condolence and outrage. Many users have called for stronger fire safety measures in informal settlements, while others questioned the slow pace of government intervention to improve housing safety and emergency access.

Standing Together in the Aftermath

As Etwatwa mourns this devastating loss, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the fragile living conditions faced by thousands of South Africans.

For now, the focus remains on the grieving relatives, classmates, and teachers who must face the empty desks and quiet hallways left behind by two young lives and the family who loved them.

“Their absence will be deeply felt,” said one teacher at Dr Harry Gwala Secondary. “They were more than learners, they were part of our family.”