A devastating shack fire tragically claimed the life of a five-day-old infant on Friday morning at around 11h00 in the Wanaheda policing area.
According to a police report, the infant’s mother had briefly stepped outside to converse with housemates, leaving the baby asleep inside the shack. Moments later, children in the vicinity raised the alarm after noticing that the room was engulfed in flames.
Despite attempts to rescue the baby, the fire quickly consumed the shack, leaving no chance for survival. The cause of the blaze is still unknown, and police investigations are ongoing.
Authorities have confirmed that the next of kin have been notified.
This tragic incident once again highlights the vulnerability of families living in informal settlements, where shack fires are a recurring and deadly risk.
