Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire at the Kya Sands informal settlement last week.
“It has been widely reported that the fire could have been caused by a paraffin stove and I have instructed the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) to conduct an investigation to determine the exact cause,” said Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.
The fire in the Johannesburg informal settlement occurred on Thursday.
Inspectors from the NRCS visited the area on Friday and their report “will enable us to determine the course of action to follow,” said Minister Davies.
The inspectors will need to determine if the paraffin stove was in deed the cause of the fire and if so, whether it complied with safety requirements.
“The NRCS will identify the manufacturer of the paraffin stove, as well as the person who sold it to the owner of the house where the fire started for possible prosecution,” said the Minister.
According to media reports, over 1 000 people have been displaced as a result of the blaze.
The NCRS is an agency of the dti. – SAnews.gov.za
