Father sets shack alight, killing toddler and himself
Ntladi said the remains of both father and daughter were found in the gutted one-room shack.
A father and his three-year-old daughter died in a shack fire in Ramaphosa Informal Settlement in Boksburg on Thursday.
It is believed the man in his fourties set the shack alight. His other two children, aged five and seven, managed to escape unharmed.
According to William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni emergency services, they were called to the scene at 5am.
On arrival, they found neighbours trying to put out the fire using the bucket brigade system. Fire fighters took over and the blaze was quickly extinguished.
Ntladi said the remains of both father and daughter were found in the gutted one-room shack.
“It is alleged the father deliberately set the shack alight. The other two children managed to escape prior to the fire. They apparently screamed for help and when neighbours intervened, the father locked himself and the three-year-old toddler inside and set the shack alight,” said Ntladi.
Frantic neighbours tried to open the door but it was too late. The two survivors were transported by ambulance to Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Germiston for medical and psychological treatment.
It is alleged the mother wasn’t home at the time on the incident.
The incident is being investigated by the police.
