A mother and her son have died in a house fire in the Southern Cape. Local police officers were called out to the scene after a fire was reported at a house.
A mother and her son have died in a house blaze
Police members were called out to Akkerlaan, Karatara on Saturday, 07 June 2025 at about 06:45. Sergeant Christopher Spies says preliminary reports available suggest that police were dispatched to the scene where a house was ablaze. On their arrival, there were flames on the premises.
A blaze in Karatara
Spies says the bodies of the victims, believed to be a woman and a boy, were found under debris. He says at this stage, it’s not clear what led to the fire. According to reports, a mother and her son were killed.
The cause of the fire is unknown
Spies says the cause of the blaze is yet to be established, and that will form part of the investigation. At the same time, the Southern Cape Police have opened an inquest docket.
The City of Cape Town has shared some basic fire safety tips
Fire safety
A blaze is a major risk factor for both residents and businesses, which can lead to loss of life, livelihood and property damage. Thousands of people are affected annually by fires in their homes, businesses and informal settlements. It is important to know how fires start and what steps you can take to prevent them.
MORE ABOUT: A fire brings devastation to Khayelitsha
Basic safety tips
In the event of a fire, it is important to know what to do to save yourself and your loved ones, and minimise any risk to property.
Warn people to get out
Crawl low under the smoke to escape
Help people to get out and then stay out
Close any open doors to slow the spread of the flames
Before opening a door, feel it with the back of your hand – do not open it if it is warm
If your clothes catch fire, do not run around because you will fan the flames. Instead, stop, drop and roll around on the ground, covering your face with your hands, to put out the flames
Keep roads clear so the fire engines can get to the fire quickly
Keep fire hydrants clear – do not park in the way of a fire hydrant
If the blaze is contained to a small area and it is safe to do so, you can try to extinguish it using an extinguisher
THESE TIPS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN’S WEBSITE.
