Johannesburg – A man died and another was seriously burnt on Saturday morning when their shack caught fire at an informal settlement in Newclare, west of Johannesburg, emergency services (EMS) said.

The fire – which broke out at about 01:00 – destroyed 50 other shacks in the area leaving about 60 people displaced, City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said.

“Disaster management officials are on site to assist the affected families with relief and other related materials to assist them to rebuild their shacks.”

The injured man was taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for further medical care.

The cause of the fire was still unclear.

Mulaudzi urged communities within the informal settlement to look after their heating and lighting appliances.

SAPA