Nine killed in KZN ‘winter-related’ incidents

The victims died in two separate incidents in the Midlands and eThekwini.

Seven of them died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning on Sunday at a house near Henley Dam, west of Pietermaritzburg. 

READ: KZN activates winter plan as it gears up for cold snap

"It is believed that the victims, who were all men aged between 17 and 50, had gathered to sleep after attending an event. It is suspected they lit a brazier inside the rondavel to keep warm due to the cold winter night," says KZN Cogta spokesperson, Senzo Mzila. 

"Tragically, they did not wake up and were discovered unresponsive on Sunday morning. Among the deceased were four members of the Mtshali family from KwaGezubuso, including a Grade 10 pupil."

Mzila says two others were killed on Friday night after a fire broke out at an informal settlement in the south of Durban.

He says 15 structures were destroyed in the blaze in Crossmoor.

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"MEC for COGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has assigned disaster management teams, together with social partners, to provide the necessary support and trauma counselling to the affected families. 

"MEC Buthelezi has called upon communities to exercise extreme caution when using heating appliances like braziers and generators, and has also placed particular emphasis on parents ensuring that children are not left unattended while in front of heaters or electric appliances that produce heat."

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