VIDEO: East father dies while trying to save son
A father and his son both died in a fire at their Mamelodi East Extension 11 home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A father and his son both died in a fire at their Mamelodi East Extension 11 home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Jimmy Chauke (61) died trying to save his son Michael (10), who was trapped inside the house, after the family had escaped.
Neighbour Phumi Makola said he was awakened by loud noises next door and when he went to investigate, he saw his neighbour’s house on fire.
He called his neighbours to help put out the fire and he noticed the fire had spread to the car in the garage.
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Makola said Chauke died while trying to save one of his twin sons who still inside the house.
Chauke’s son, Terence, said a neighbour had called to alert him to the fire.
“When I arrived at the scene, everything my family owned was gone,” he said.
“I found the paramedics and Tshwane emergency services at the scene still trying to put out the fire.”
“My father and my younger brother died in the fire,” he said.
Terence said his mother, deceased brother’s twin sister and another brother escaped the inferno but were still taken to hospital.
Terence said his family lost everything they had and pleaded with the public to help with donations to rebuild the house before the burial of his father and brother.
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Mamelodi police spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso said an inquest case has been opened.
Police are still busy with the investigation to determine the cause of the fire, he said.
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