Teen dies in Village Heights fire
A 13-year-old boy died in a blaze in Village Heights informal settlement in the early hours of Monday morning, February 26.
Zane Fouten, a Grade 7 pupil at Hillwood Primary School, and his family were asleep when the fire broke out at about 2am and despite his older brother’s best efforts, he was unable to save him.
His brother Zayed Fouten, 16, who spoke to Southern Mail on the scene on Monday February 16, recalled how he woke up coughing, realised their home was engulfed in smoke and immediately jumped into action and called out to his grandmother.
The brave teen tried to open one of the two exit doors but it was padlocked and in the process he sustained third degree burns to his hands.
“When I woke up and saw the flames and smoke I called my ouma and tried to open the door but the lock had numbers and I was struggling because I couldn’t see in the dark,” said the traumatised teen.
The skin was peeling off of his hands but Zayed continued to try and open the lock but was unsuccessful. He then went to the other exit door in the kitchen, kicked it down and escaped along with his grandmother, uncle and youngest brother.
Their grandmother Faiza Jacobs said she and Zayed tried desperately to get everyone in the house to safety.
“I woke up to Zayed screaming that it was burning and I woke Zane and Imaan, their younger brother, thinking that both of them will follow me to the kitchen door to get out. I think Zane went to the wrong door, the one that wouldn't open because that is where we found him lying after the fire brigade put out the flames,” said the emotional grandmother.
When Zayed tried to go back inside to help his other brother, the flames were too overwhelming and in the process he sustained first degree burns to his lips and ears.
“I tried but there was nothing I could do because the flames were too high,” he said.
City of Cape Town fire and rescue services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, confirmed the incident, which left more than 15 people displaced and said the cause of the fire is still to be determined.
“Fire and Rescue Service was alerted just before 2.30am of structures alight in St Bonaface Road and crews from Lakeside, Wynberg, Constantia, Hout Bay and Gugulethu responded to the scene,” he said.
By 4.25am, firefighters had managed to extinguish the blaze, said Mr Carelse.
“The cause of the fire at this stage is unknown pending an investigation from the South African Police Service.”
The family are waiting on DNA testing and are unable to bury Zane according to Muslim rites.
Ward councillor Mandy Marr said it was a tragic incident and the City and organisations have come onboard to help the family with counselling and to assist all those who were left destitute.
Anyone willing to assist the family with clothes, food, necessities and building material can contact the councillor on 084 731 3339 or community worker Aysha Davids on 066 146 7227.