A man and three children in Ivory Park, Thembisa died after their neighbours were unable to save them from their burning shack.

Ivory Park SAPS communications officer Captain Ben Matimulane says the incident happened on Sunday morning.

“The incident took place in Ivory Park’s Extension 10, where a 34-year-old man and children between the ages of nine and 17 were heard screaming for help,” says Matimulane.

He says neighbours were woken up by the cries for help, but by then the fire was already raging and there was very little they could do to help the victims.

“They were all members of the same family,” adds Matimulane.

Matimulane says the cause of the fire is still unknown at this stage but an inquest into the death of the four has been opened.