Snl24 | Sangoma dad dies trying to save kids

Constance Qeqe, whose husband Masakhane Toyake died in a fire while trying to save their kids. Photo by Misheck Makora

A HERO sangoma dad died bravely on Sunday, 16 June while trying to save his family.

This after a mysterious fire started inside the cupboard in their shack at Level 2 Informal Settlement while the family was asleep.

Constance Qeqe (43) said they were asleep when her husband, Masakhane Toyake (54) said the house was on fire.

“At first, I thought he was dreaming because he was fast asleep. I looked around, and there was no fire in the house. When I woke him up, flames came out of the wardrobe, and we managed to escape,” she said.

Sangoma Masakhane Toyake died while trying to save his children.

While outside, Masakhane realised that his daughter, Owethu Qeqe (15) and grandson Hlumelo Fokwana (10) were still inside the shack, so he rushed back inside to try and save them.

However, all three of them didn’t make it out of the burning shack.

“Flames got out of hand and he and the children didn’t make it out alive. We’re sitting with three bodies to bury,” Constance said.

She suspects the fire could have been vutha as there was nothing flammable in the cupboard.

“It was only clothes in the wardrobe. I suspect the fire was caused by vutha,” she said.

Owethu Qeqe and Hlumelo Fokwana died in a shack fire.

Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Jermaine Carelse said they were called to Level 2 Informal Settlement near Khayelitsha Mall around 3am.

“Crews from Mfuleni, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain were dispatched to the scene and found one large structure on fire. Just after 4am, firefighters managed to extinguish the fire which destroyed the structure and left 10 people displaced.

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“Sadly, the bodies of an adult male, a female and a male minor were discovered with fatal burn wounds. Circumstances surrounding the incident are investigated by the police,” Carelse said.

Police spokesman, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi also confirmed the incident.

“Lingelethu police attended to a complaint on Sunday, 16 June. Upon arrival at Level 2 Informal Settlement, they found fire and rescue members. Three people were declared dead on the scene. Lingelethu West police registered an inquest for further investigation,” Swartbooi said. 

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