Three men died in Bellville, Cape Town, after being overwhelmed by gas fumes while watching a World Cup soccer match on television, Die Burger reported on Friday.
Thomas Philander (44), Shane Solomons (22) and an unnamed man were found dead on Thursday in a house they were looking after during construction.
They had used a petrol generator to power a television set with all doors and windows closed.
Police spokesperson Captain Marius Roux said the men were thought to have died of carbon monoxide poisoning. A post mortem would be done on Friday.
”According to labourers at the site, the generator’s petrol tank was full on Wednesday night. It was empty on Thursday morning,” he told Die Burger.
”We suspect the gas built up and overwhelmed them because there was no ventilation to let in fresh air.” — Sapa