13-year-old dies as two Plastic View fires raze more than 200 shacks in under a week

A 13-year-old girl died after two separate fires swept through the Plastic View informal settlement in Pretoria East within four days, destroying more than 200 shacks and leaving scores of residents without homes.

What happened

The first blaze occurred on 24 May 2026, and the second on 28 May 2026. The City of Tshwane Emergency Services reported that the initial incident destroyed approximately 150 shacks, while the later fire affected about 100 shacks.

Casualties and injuries

Firefighters discovered the body of a 13-year-old child during search and recovery operations after the second fire. The child was declared dead on the scene. The parents and a younger sibling sustained burn injuries and were taken to a nearby medical facility.

Emergency response

City of Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson and deputy chief Nana Radebe-Kgiba said the emergency medical services received the fire call shortly before midnight and dispatched firefighting resources from central, Silverton, Erasmuskloof and Mamelodi. She said firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.

“During search and recovery operations after the fire was extinguished, firefighters discovered the body of a 13-year-old child where the fire allegedly started. The child was declared dead on the scene. The parents and a younger sibling sustained burn injuries and were taken to a nearby medical facility.”

Displacement and city action

The second fire displaced around 100 families, the city said. Disaster Risk Management was conducting assessments and verifications to assist displaced families and coordinating relief with other city departments and non-governmental organisations.

After the first fire, City of Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya said relocation plans for Plastic View residents were ongoing. She said a site had been identified in Pretorius Park and that the presence of a large number of foreign nationals had complicated relocation efforts.

“We are in constant contact with home affairs and the South African Police Service about finalising the relocation process and the removal of illegal immigrants,”

she said.

Context

Emergency services reminded residents to exercise caution when using electrical appliances, open flames, candles, paraffin stoves and heating devices. The City noted that over the years there have been multiple fires at the settlement, including a May 2023 blaze that left people homeless.