Residents suspect arson after at least six people were displaced when a fire destroyed two Wendy houses in a Mitchells Plain yard on Sunday night.
Shanaaz Galant, 31, said the home at 15 Anson Street that she shared with her sister, brother-in-law and mother was completely destroyed close to midnight.
She explains: “I was not home at the time but my sister was sleeping when she heard something and saw somebody had lifted the roof plate and threw something in the house.
“She says the fire started immediately and they just ran out the house without being able to take anything.
“Then when the fire was going, a small gas tank blew up, so quarter past 12, and the fire just got bigger until the fire trucks came to put it out.
“There was another Wendy house next to ours, where the owner of the house’s son stays, that was also destroyed and the fire also burnt a car parked in the yard next door.”
Clara Pietersen, the owner of the house, said her 42-year-old son ran out of the house as the fire was raging but was also unable to save anything.
“He was sleeping and I do not know what happened, but I know that they use candles and there is a gas tank.
“The fire was big and it covered everything in the yard, it even burnt my roof and our bin.
“They say somebody threw something in the house but nobody saw anything.
“When the fire was burning, we all ran out through the gate on the side and were standing on the corner when the gas tank blew up.
“Thankfully nobody was hurt but they all lost everything, their clothes, IDs, everything was just burnt.”
Fire & Rescue services’ Jermain Carelse confirmed that they extinguished the fire but said the cause is unknown.
If you would like to assist the victims, contact Shireen Jack on 072 696 6181.