Zim man, SA wife, children, killed in South Africa fire

A Zimbabwean man, his small house (SA wife) and their two children died after thousands of shacks (imikhukhu) caught fire at an informal settlement in South Africa’s Cape Town City.

Vusumuzi Nsimba (48), originally of Entumbane suburb in Bulawayo died together with his new family, whose names are still to be established, on Saturday night when their shack which is located along Pleasant Street in Wesbank, caught fire.

Fire-fighters battled the blaze for more than 12 hours and ran out of water.

The informal settlement is said to be built on a slope without discernible pathways, impeding fire-fighters.

A South African police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said investigations into the cause of the fire are still in progress.

“I can confirm that cases of inquest were opened for investigation. There is a Zimbabwean family a man aged 48, woman 32- years-old and their two children aged five and three that died on March 11 when their shack caught fire,” said Ms Rwexana.

Vusumuzi had left three minor children who reside in the rural areas in Zimbabwe.

His Zimbabwean wife had just found that he started a new family when he crossed to South Africa.