George: Young mother dies in fire

Police cordoned off the scene after a fire broke out at this double storey facebrick house right next to the popular Nathan’s Tavern, in Thembalethu last Wednesday morning. Photo: Lizette da Silva

GEORGE NEWS - A young mother from Thembalethu died in a fire while saving her child and two other young children from their burning home.

Marinda Dlephu's (28) body was found inside the house in the early hours of last Wednesday, after a fire broke out just before 04:00. The house is situated right next to the popular Nathan's Tavern, one of the oldest shebeens in Thembalethu.

Dlephu, her elderly mother, Dina, her brother and three young children were all asleep when dark clouds of smoke woke them up. It was only after everyone was standing outside that they realised Dlephu was missing but they were unable to go back into the house, as flames had engulfed it. It is suspected that during the last of her rescues, she was overwhelmed by thick smoke and lost consciousness.

Dlephu's mother and the toddlers were all taken to the local hospital after suffering from severe smoke inhalation.

Ilse Schoonraad, spokesperson for the George Municipality, this week said the George Fire Brigade arrived on the scene at 04:20 after they were called out at 04:18. The fire brigade's satellite station is situated down the street from the house.

"The fire was already out of control when they arrived and it took some time to get it under control. The help of the Eden Fire Brigade was also called in for assistance," said Schoonraad.

On Thursday, members from the Thembalethu police station cordoned off the scene and kept a vigilant watch, while waiting for the forensic team from Port Elizabeth to go over the scene in search of evidence.

Capt. Malcolm Pojie, the Southern Cape police spokesperson, said the cause of the fire was not yet known but that the forensic experts had visited the scene on Friday and the police were awaiting the results of their investigation. The police have opened an inquest docket.

It was the third time in three years that a fire has broken out on the same premises. Bystanders at the scene said, although it was suggested that an electrical short circuit might have caused the fire, that they suspected arson.

- George Herald