Dad has to watch family burn

2008-07-31 09:03

Daleen van Manen

Hartbeespoort - Five family members - including three children - burnt to death in their home here on Wednesday morning while the father struggled in vain to rescue them.

The fire brigade apparently showed up more than an hour later.

Police reservist Paul Korong, 39, had to stand helplessly outside his house in Scott Street, Schoemansville, and watch as his wife Sally, 39, mother-in-law Selina Ntlogelang, 75, his daughter, Madika, 19, and his sons Tshepo, 14, and Tsimi, two, were burnt alive, while the flames prevented him from entering the house.

"Korong and his wife were on their way to work and had just got into their car when they heard screams and saw smoke pouring from the house," said Inspector Moses Manaiwa.

The couple tried to enter the front door, but were stopped by the flames.

They broke the windows at the back of the house, but could not get through the burglar bars.

Everything was quiet

"Korong ran to the police station which is a block from the house, to get help. In the meantime, his wife must have succeeded in getting into the house.

"When he returned, the whole house was enveloped in flames and everything was quiet."

Witnesses said bystanders had to prevent Korong from entering the house.

Manaiwa said it was not known what had caused the fire, but the police's forensic unit from Pretoria was going to investigate.

- Beeld