Gauteng police probing Ekurhuleni shack fire that claimed lives of adult, toddler

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police are investigating a deadly shack fire in Ekurhuleni that claimed the lives of an adult and a two-year-old child.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Snake Park, Nigel, on Sunday, where they discovered the charred remains of the two victims inside a burnt-down structure.

This latest tragedy brings the number of fire-related deaths in the metro to at least eight in just a few days, with seven of them children aged between two and ten.

Ekurhuleni emergency services spokesperson Maswati Mdluli has urged residents to exercise extreme caution when using heating devices this winter.

"Communities are reminded to use heating appliances with caution during this winter as many of these incidents can be avoided by making sure that all these heating and lighting devices are attended to when in use."