Five people, including two children, have died after a devastating fire ripped through a three-storey residential building in Doornfontein, Johannesburg on Saturday, with authorities continuing efforts to establish what sparked the blaze.
The fire broke out shortly before midday at a privately owned building on Davies Street, according to the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, prompting a major emergency response.
Firefighters evacuated residents from the building and battled the flames for several hours before bringing the fire under control. Once the structure was deemed safe enough to enter, search teams discovered the bodies of three adults and two children inside.
Emergency officials said no further survivors were found during secondary searches, and that the building sustained significant internal fire damage, complicating recovery and investigation efforts.
The victims have not yet been formally identified, pending notification of families and forensic procedures. Their bodies have been transferred to the South African Police Service for post-mortem examinations and further investigation.
Authorities have also begun examining whether electrical faults, heating equipment, or other ignition sources may have played a role, although the cause remains officially undetermined.
EMS officials reiterated warnings about fire safety in densely populated residential buildings, highlighting risks linked to overloaded plug points, unattended open flames, and unsafe heating practices—particularly in older or subdivided properties.
Investigations are continuing, with further updates expected once forensic teams complete their assessment of the scene.