A team of social workers from the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has been dispatched to the remaining family members of a Hanover Park family, where 3 members died in a fire.
The fire destroyed a flat in an apartment block, and claimed the lives of three inhabitants on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased were one adult, Yvonne Briqwa, 57, and her two grandchildren - Jayden, 1, and Jordan, 3.
Social workers will conduct trauma and bereavement counselling and other psycho-social support to the children’s parents, who were left deeply traumatized by the incident.
Tragically, this incident comes 3 days after another fire claimed the lives of 6 family members (two parents and their 4 children) in nearby Philippi East. The Department has provided counselling support to the remaining relatives, and urgent food support was provided, as one of the victims in that fire was the family’s breadwinner.
We trust the South African Police Services (SAPS) investigation will uncover the cause of this fire. We urge the public, and families, to be extra careful of the risk of fire during this winter period.
Sihle Ngobese
Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, Minister of Social Development
Western Cape Government
7th floor, 14 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town, 8000
Tel : (021) 483 9217
Cell : 076 083 6543
Email : Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za