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Cape Town
Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Khayelitsha shack fire claims lives of two young children

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Police are investigating the cause of a fire in Town 2, Khayelitsha, on Tuesday evening, that claimed the lives of two young children.

 

It comes amid strong winds blowing across many parts of Cape Town on Tuesday, which brought the latest cold front.

 

Police say it is suspected that a lit candle caused the fire.

 

The City’s Fire & Rescue Service was alerted just after 21:30 of a structure engulfed in flames.

 

After fire crews from Khayelitsha and Lansdowne were dispatched, they managed to contain the fire at around 23:00.

 

Tragically, they found the bodies of two boys, aged 4 and 7, with fatal burn wounds under the rubble.

 

Makhaza police registered an inquest docket and have asked anyone with more information to come forward.

 

It comes after a similar incident earlier this month in Wallacedene, where a fire claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl.

 

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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