KWATHEMA, GAUTENG - A family in the Marikana Informal Settlement in KwaThema is asking for government's help after six members died in a shack fire on Monday morning.
The dead include a 1 year-old child. Only one little girl survived, but is in hospital in critical condition. Her grandfather says it’s a difficult time for the family.
The community says they were woken up by cries for help but unfortunately they could only save the seven-year-old girl.
READ: Beware of shack fires ahead of this cold front and winter
With colder nights, officials are urging residents to take care when using open flames or paraffin stoves for heating.
As the blaze is investigated, community members say they believe emergency services took too long to respond. But the Human Settlements MMC says there is no evidence of delays.