A family of seven has died after their house burnt down in the early hours of Thursday morning
Spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana says Willowvale police responded to a call at about 4 am about a house on fire at Ciko Village in the Mnqayi locality.
He says their preliminary report suggests that a 56-year-old mother het 28-year-old daughter and five younger siblings between the ages of 3 and 14, inlcuding a set of twins, were asleep when the house was caught alight.
Kinana says a young man who was sleeping in a different house heard screaming and went to investigate.
None of the people could be rescued at the time.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Ntshinga described the incident as very tragic and unfortunate.
Police have registered an inquest docket for investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident.
The identities of the deceased are still being withheld until all their relatives are officially informed.