A man and a woman died, four people were injured and 45 shacks were destroyed in a fire in Malvern, Johannesburg police said on Friday.
A 46-year-old man — thought to have started the blaze at about 11pm on Thursday night — has been arrested, said police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht. He has been charged with arson and murder and is being held at the Cleveland police station.
Engelbrecht said the man owned three shacks in the settlement on the corner of Jules and Marathon streets. People living there had apparently refused to pay the rent.
The woman who died was 21 years old. She and a man burnt to death in the blaze.
Another man had to be treated for smoke inhalation and three women were taken to hospital. The nature of their injuries and their conditions were not known.
Engelbrecht said the fire had left about 60 people homeless. They were being assisted by disaster-management officials and the police’s trauma department.
With eight children aged three months to eight years in need of shelter and food, Engelbrecht urged anyone able to help to call Tel: 073 352 3817. — Sapa