Lamontville fire victims pick up pieces
Hours after a fire gutted several informal dwellings Lamontville, south of Durban affected families say they have no idea how they will begin to pick up the pieces.
At about 3 o'clock this morning neighbours were woken up by screams as the blaze razed seven shacks to the ground.
EThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo has visited those affected this afternoon.
Screams and panic, those are some of the words used by those who survived this morning’s fire that claimed the life of 54-year-old Moses Mbambo.
So far no one knows where exactly and how the fire started at the informal settlement off the busy Mhlongo road.
Burned out fridges, stoves, beds and other items are a reminder that people's homes stood here just over 12 hours ago.
One woman told Newswatch all she could salvage was her ID as she knew she would need that for social services.
Some of the parents say today's fire has traumatised their young children who will now miss out on some school.
They are mostly worried about where they will sleep tonight or what they will even eat.
(Photos, video: Steve Bhengu)