An unidentified infant died on Saturday as runaway fires swept through several informal settlement zones in Langa outside Cape Town.
Emergency services spokesperson Johann Minnie said 8 000 people were affected when flames ravaged zones 30, 24, 25, 26, 27, 18 and 32.
An estimated 1 500 structures were razed.
Seven people, including two children, were seriously injured.
The children were transferred to the Red Cross Children’s hospital.
Nine people, including two firefighters, were treated for minor injuries mostly related to smoke inhalation.
Two hostels and a cottage on the grounds of a primary school in the area were also damaged.
Minnie said the two helicopters water-bombing the area have been recalled as the conflagration is now under control.
About 15 firefighting vehicles remained on the scene, as well as ground support staff.
At this stage, authorities do not know how the fire started.
Meanwhile, firemen remained vigilant as strong winds fanned a fire above the Lakeside area in the southern Peninsula.
The fire, which has been burning intermittently since Thursday, was under control and damping-down operations were taking place.
Four helicopters have been water-bombing another fire at Table Mountain’s sentinel viewpoint.
Minnie said the fire is ”burning high” and could possibly spread to the Houtbay and Llandudno residential areas.
At this stage, no evacuation of residents is under way. — Sapa