A one-year-old baby escaped being burnt to death when a house in K206’s Extension 9 mysteriously caught fire, destroying more than R10 000 worth of furniture and other electrical appliances.

The cause of the fire at house 6537, off Alfred Nzo Street, is suspected to have been a burning stove that was left unattended. The family, however, is bewildered as to how the stove – which they have used many times before – could have started the fire.

Family member Fikile Hlongwane said the fire started at about 6:45pm when his brother, Hector Hlongwane, lit the stove to warm himself and the house before he could braai some meat.

“I went outside to rinse the saucepan and when I came back in less than 10 minutes, my whole upstairs bedroom was engulfed in fire”, he said.

“I panicked and sought a bucket to douse the fire, and all other family members joined in the fight to extinguish it,” explained Hector, barely holding back tears, as he could not understand what could have caused it.

Fikile’s one-year-old baby miraculously escaped being burnt to death as the fire quickly spread from Hector’s bedroom to an adjacent one – where the baby was sleeping.

“I am bewildered as to the cause of the fire,” said Hector, claiming it was the work of “black magic” from people who don’t like him.

He added that by the time the Emergency Management Services trucks arrived the fire had been extinguished, except for smouldering areas under the beds and other furniture.

UPDATE: 5 July, 8am
It is not clear what led to the fire at house number 6553 off Alfred Nzo Street (formerly Roosevelt) in Extension 9 at about 7pm.

Councillor Shadrack Mkhonto said no one was injured by the inferno but furniture and electrical appliances were destroyed.

More details will follow shortly.