Police are investigating the incident.
A person was burnt past recognition when a number of shacks went up in flames at L & J Casual Settlement in Olifantsfontein, with firefighters battling to include the blaze earlier than it unfold additional.
The charred physique was found early on Sunday morning, 19 July 2026.
Shack hearth
Metropolis of Ekurhuleni Catastrophe & Emergency Administration Companies spokesperson Tikkie MacDonald mentioned emergency companies personnel responded to the a number of shack fires after receiving a number of calls.
“Firefighters have been dispatched at roughly 06:05 to L & J Casual Settlement in Olifantsfontein following stories of a number of shacks on hearth.
“Upon arrival, crews discovered a number of shacks engulfed in flames. Firefighters responded promptly to include and extinguish the blaze and efficiently prevented the fireplace from spreading to neighbouring shacks,” MacDonald mentioned.
Charred physique
MacDonald added that in damping down operations, the charred stays of a male, believed to be in his early thirties, have been discovered inside one of many shacks.
“The person was declared deceased on scene by Gauteng Emergency Medical Companies paramedics. The reason for the fireplace is at the moment unknown. Hearth Investigators have been dispatched to the scene to determine the trigger.
“Gauteng Forensic Pathology Companies eliminated the physique, and the scene was handed over to the South African Police Service for additional investigation,” MacDonald mentioned.
Ekurhuleni shack hearth
In a separate incident, a person in his thirties was burnt to dying when a two‑room shack caught hearth in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
The blaze occurred in Moleleki Extension 2, Katlehong, with firefighters battling to stop it from spreading to neighbouring houses.
MacDonald mentioned they responded to the fireplace through the early hours of Saturday morning, 18 July 2026.
“Firefighters from the Zonkezizwe Hearth Station have been dispatched at roughly 04:18 to a shack hearth in Moleki Extension 2. On arrival, crews discovered a 2-bedroom shack properly alight with group members on scene utilizing the bucket brigade technique to attempt to extinguish the fireplace.”
MacDonald mentioned firefighters acted swiftly to extinguish the fireplace and efficiently prevented the flames from spreading to 2 different shacks in the identical yard.
