Police have opened an inquest docket after a man burnt to death in a cottage in a pine plantation in Grabouw.
Irvine Kanyemba, general manager of MTO Cape, confirmed that the deceased was an employee of a contractor employed by MTO to cut down the trees.
“The other people in the house managed to escape but unfortunately he died. We are still awaiting a report on the matter,” says Kanyemba.
The deceased’s identity was being withheld because his next of kin has not been informed of the incident yet.
Workers at the plantation say the man saved two of his colleagues who were sleeping in the house with him by calling out to them.
“They thought he was outside but only later realised he was trapped inside the burning house,” says a source.
Overberg Fire and Rescue Chief Reinard Geldenhuys says they received the call shortly after 3am.
The cause of the fire is not known.
“After the fire was extinguished the body of an adult male was discovered. At this stage it is unclear what caused the fire,” says Geldenhuys.
He adds that because somebody died during the fire the police have launched an investigation.
Police spokesperson Constable Noloyiso Rwexana says police received the call about the fire at Keerbos Houses near the Grabouw Country Club at about 2.30am yesterday.
“The deceased is unidentified at this stage. A death inquest case was opened for investigation,” adds Rwexana.