DURBAN - Emihle Nyembe, four, Mbali Mzimela, 28, and Fikelephi Mzimela, 64, died after their home went up in flames on Mthombe Road in KwaMashu J-section, north of Durban, on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said KwaMashu police had opened an inquest docket.
Mbele said the cause of the fire that ripped through the four-room house at around 3pm was unknown.
It is alleged that Fikelephi died in the fire while neighbours rescue Emihle and Mbali from the blaze. They both died in hospital on the same day.
A family spokesperson, Njabulo Makhathini, said the fire had claimed the lives of the breadwinners and left young children.
Makhathini said he did not know what caused the fire.
He said what hurt the most was that those who could explain it were dead.
Makhathini said the mood at home was sombre and the family did not know how they would bury them since Mbali had been the only one who had worked.
“The whole house and its contents were burnt… Honestly, it’s difficult to talk about what happened, it’s too painful to describe,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal conveyed its condolences to the family.
“We call on the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, which would ensure that similar incidents do not reoccur,” ANC KZN spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela said.
“We would like to applaud the neighbours who demonstrated the spirit of Ubuntu by risking their lives while trying to rescue the three from the fire.
“Their heroics led to Mbali and Emihle being rescued and taken to hospital. However, they, sadly, passed away in hospital.”
He praised the KZN Department of Social Development for sending a delegation to the family to assist the remaining relatives with psychosocial support.
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