Kalahari tragedy: 9 People lose their lives in devastating fire

- On Sunday, a devastating fire broke out at a lodge in the Kalahari shortly after 01:00

- Nine people have since died either in the fire or afterwards due to injuries caused by it

- Three families were staying at the Blinkwater lodge when the wooden house caught on fire

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An entire family has been wiped out after a devastating fire broke out at a lodge they were staying at with their friends over the weekend.

On Sunday, at around 01:00, a wooden structure at the Blinkwater lodge in the Kalahari caught fire. Three families - the Carstens, Bauer and Davin families, were staying at the lodge when the incident happened.

All the families reside in Witzenberg area and were away for the weekend at the lodge when tragedy struck.

When the structure caught fire, several people were stuck and nine - including six children - have since lost their lives. Sadly, one entire family passed away.

According to News24, Hendri Carstens, 39, his 36-year-old wife, Dane, and their children (aged three and five) were killed in the fire.

Stefan Bauer, 39, and his daughters - seven-year-old Inge and four-year-old Elre - also succumbed to the fire. Bauer's wife, Madelein, was the only one of the family to survive.

Frans Davin, five, and three-year-old Iza also died while their dad, Frans, is still fighting for his life in the hospital.

A friend and colleague of Cartsens, Herman Botha, told the publication that he and his kids lost their best friends.

The mother of Frans and Iza, Wilmien Davin, has spoken up about losing her children in such a horrific manner.

She said:

“No-one deserves to die in such a traumatic manner. Our hearts are broken. We are lost for words.”

TimesLIVE reported Wilmien and her baby boy survived the fire.

The Police have since opened an inquest docket following the incident. It has not yet been revealed what started the fire.

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Meanwhile, in other news, Briefly.co.za earlier reported Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has addressed the nation on Level 2 lockdown updates.

She revealed the alcohol and cigarettes will be back on sale and the economy will open up more. Generally, restrictions across the board were relaxed and inter-provincial travel will resume as well as family visits (with restrictions).

South Africans have roasted Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma following her address on the updated lockdown Level 2 regulations.

Saffas reacted with hilarious memes and many called the minister out for speaking in Zulu.

One person commented:

"#Level2regulations. Am I watching a Shaka Zulu movie."

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Source: Briefly News