Community activists aid tenants of Mayfair house that caught fire, killing 4 children
Food and personal hygiene packages are being handed out by the African Muslim Agency.
Police at the scene of a fire on Monday, 19 May 2025, that killed four children in Mayfair in Joburg’s CBD. Picture: Jabulile Mbatha/EWN.
JOHANNESBURG - Community activists have taken the lead in providing humanitarian aid for the tenants of the house where a room caught fire, killing four children
Food and personal hygiene packages are being handed out by the African Muslim Agency.
On Monday, a room used as a creche caught fire and the children who were inside were burned beyond recognition.
READ: Fatal Mayfair fire: Tenant blames childminder for often leaving children unattended
The scores of women and children seated on the floor outside the house say they are tenants of the property, which is now under investigation by law enforcement agents.
The house, which is covered in red tape, has a huge hole on the side, where the fire happened.
Inside the room, there are parts of the ceiling, lying on the floor, the springs of a bed mattress, and a few items of clothing, while some furniture items bear the charred results of the blaze.
Law enforcement officers are still searching the house trying to determine the cause of the fire.
While they wait, Hassan Abdullahi from the African Muslim Agency said they will help where they can.
"We have blankets in our offices available, we have small food hampers that are available, and same time, we order hot food like we did today, like rice and briyani. This is our duty."
He said they are also hoping to find accommodation for the tenants who remain outside while police investigate.
At the same time, police have opened an inquest docket into the cause of the fire.
"No one has been arrested and police investigations continue," said Gauteng police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
One of the aunts of the deceased said she is angry that the daycare owner is nowhere to be found.
Patience Chiyani says that since the incident, they have had no contact with the child minder.
"At the end of the day, we were informed by other people about the fire instead of the creche owner, who is the person we entrusted with the children, instead, it’s neighbours calling us about the incident."