(The Post News)- The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services recovered remains of four young kids ranging from 2 years and below in a house fire that broke out in Mayfair, Johannesburg around 11h00.
According to EMS, the kids were presumed dead after smoke inhalation during the fire, and claimed that the cause of the blaze is believing to be from a heating device that was used before the fire started.
The Public Safety Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC), Councillor Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, has extended his deepest condolences to the families of the four toddlers who tragically lost their lives in the Mayfair fire incident. He said that their thoughts are with their families and those affected by this devastating incident.
He commended emergency services for their swift response and investigators’ efforts in finding the cause of the blaze, while ensuring that the safety of communities remains the top priority.
One of the victims, Mdumiseni Mncube, father of a one year old daughter, said that he wants the landlord to face full might of the law. He also told the reporter that the daycare center was unregistered.
“What happened is sad, it’s painful to leave your child in a daycare while you go to work only to find them to find them burned to death. Getting burned by fire is already painful for an adult so for a child to die like this… it’s heartbreaking,” he stated.
Mncube said that it is still hard for him to believe what happened.
According to reports, it is alleged that the landlord of the creche set up, had been also operating a tuckshop in the same building, where nearby people would bring their kids in the morning while they go to work.
Some community member whose name withheld for identity protection told the media that the woman who has been looking after the children had step out to go to the nearest shop when the incident took place.
She said that the crech was taking care of more than fifty children, adding that the landlord probably locked the toddlers inside the house with the stove on and had been away for too long.
“After that we got information that the place was burning… The fact that most children could not be saved is that she locked the children in,” she said.
She shared that the community and parents of the kids are devastated by the incident and awaiting for the findings on the investigation done by the authorities.
The City of Johannesburg Communications Manager, Robert Mulaudzi has urged the residents to exercise safety measures when using heating device since the South African Weather Services (SAWS) issued a warning for extremely cold front from 21 May 2025 and the rest of the week.
He also adviced them to immediately contact EMS call center during life threatening events.
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