A family of five, including a 10-month-old baby, has been saved by their neighbour who climbed onto a wheelie bin to get them out of their burning home.
The hero snuffed out the flames, using sand from his yard, long enough to save everyone.
Wagied Naidoo, 27, of Freedom Park, in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, has been hailed a hero by the community and by a grateful Samantha Boniface, 38, and her family.
Samantha, who has three children, aged 10 months, three and 13, says she awoke to choking smoke in her bedroom in Bayern Munich Street just after 12am on Wednesday.
She opened her upstairs bedroom window and shouted to her neighbour, Charneel Plaatjies, for help.
‘FAULT’: Electrical short circuit may have started fire
Charneel says Wagied didn’t hesitate to jump into action, kicking open the front gate to get onto the property and then climbing onto a wheelie bin to get to the scared family.
“He got all three of my children out of the house and then he also saved me. He is a hero and I want to thank him,” says Samantha.
“I jumped onto the bin and fell, but I am OK.”
Wagied also smashed open the kitchen window and killed the flames using sand.
“I saw that the flames were inside the kitchen and I broke the window,” he explains.
RESCUED: Tafelsig family safe
“I knew I could not use water because I noticed that the electricity box and stove were burning and you cannot throw water on electricity. I then took a spade in the yard and I threw sand onto the flames.”
Edward Bosch, the spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Services, says the fire had been extinguished by the time they arrived.
“The fire was extinguished by neighbours before arrival of the brigade. There was slight fire damage to the kitchen and minor smoke damage to the remainder of the dwelling.
“The preliminary cause suggests probable electrical short circuit igniting surrounding combustibles.”