BOPHELONG.- A devastating midnight fire at the Joko Tea informal settlement has destroyed a family home and claimed the lives of two people.

The tragedy unfolded on September 28 when a fierce blaze engulfed a three-room shack where the Khunou family of six lived.

Maria Khunou (57) and her grandson (23), Mpho Khunou, tragically perished in the flames.

“It was around 23:00 when I heard screams calling for help from my mom’s bedroom. My son and I went through the flames trying to save my mom but failed to come out with her. All I recall was how my son also never made it out of the violent flames,” said family spokesperson and eyewitness Matseleng Khunou.

Matseleng told the Ster team how neighbours rushed to assist.

“Residents tried to put out the fire, but because of the magnitude of the fire, they couldn’t calm the blaze down. We called firefighters who came and assisted, but it was a little too late.”

The grieving family has now been left completely homeless with all their belongings destroyed.

“What’s even worse is that both my mother and son do not possess identity documents. We don’t know how we are going to go about planning the funeral. We are now left with my brother. It is hard to come to terms with what transpired,” she said.

The Khunou family has made an emotional appeal to kind-hearted members of the public for support as they try to organise the funeral and rebuild their lives.

Vanderbijlpark Police spokesperson had not confirmed the incident at the time of going to print.