The family of Lebogang Chiloane is mourning after he died in a house fire at the intersection of Striker and Shibobo streets in Ext 7, Alexandra on October 28.

Emergency Management Services (EMS) media officer Xolile Khumalo confirmed that the department received a call about the fire at 13:20.

Read more: Fire damages house in Alexandra Ext 7

She said firefighters had extinguished the blaze and begun damping down operations, and that no injuries had been reported at that stage.

Around the same time, Alex News received a report that a man, now identified as Chiloane, a 49-year-old father of three from Mpumalanga, may be trapped inside, but neither SAPS, EMS nor the family could verify this at the time.

Also read: Alexandra family needs help to rebuild home after fire

The family has since confirmed his death. They said police alerted them, and when they arrived at the scene, everything had been consumed by the fire and Chiloane was found inside the house.

The family said they are uncertain about what transpired. They had planned to visit his home this coming weekend.

“We had not been in touch with him. This thing started this past Sunday, then it was Monday, Tuesday and then yesterday, that is how we lost him,” the family revealed.

Attempts to reach Alexandra Police Station were unsuccessful at the time of publication. This report will be updated as soon as police confirm if an inquest into the matter has been opened.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!