POLOKWANE – Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has issued a stern warning to communities about the dangers of using braziers in enclosed spaces during winter, after a series of tragic incidents in the Mankweng and Seshego precincts last week that resulted in the loss of lives and property.

A 58-year-old man from Zone 2, Seshego, succumbed to severe injuries in the hospital on Saturday. He had sustained burns from a fire he made in his shack on Friday evening, which burned out of control.

Additionally, three men aged between 14 and 22 were found dead in the bedroom they were sleeping in at Morongwa Park in Ga-Mothiba last Thursday. They had apparently inhaled fumes from a coal brazier they used to keep warm.

While investigations are ongoing, Hadebe stressed that inhalation of fumes from such materials is proven to be dangerous and can cause harm or death. In a related incident, Thakhani Makhuvha, Group CEO of the Limpopo Economic Development Agency, expressed deep concern over ongoing fires, particularly after a recycling factory burned down last Monday.

While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, Makhuvha highlighted that the incident has negatively impacted job security, affecting a recycling programme that employed 73 people. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.

The Polokwane Fire Department responded swiftly to the factory fire, which rapidly engulfed the entire facility.