On one of Cape Town’s coldest nights, a family’s desperate attempt to stay warm ended in unimaginable tragedy, leaving an eight-year-old boy badly burned, his father fighting for his life, and their home reduced to ashes.
Cape Town, South Africa (21 May 2026) – A few days ago, a Cape Town family – a father, mother and son – had simply been trying to keep warm during a terrible storm when they lit a fire in their home. It was one of the coldest nights.
But then… their chimney exploded. In seconds, their rental home turned into a nightmare of flames, smoke, panic, and screams.
Keglu, the eight-year-old boy, suffered severe burns to his face and legs and is currently at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
“Seeing such a small boy go through this pain has been absolutely heartbreaking. No child should ever have to endure something so traumatic,” Keglu’s cousin, Chanel Kleynhans tells us.
The father, Chanel’s uncle Mark, was critically injured in the fire and is currently fighting for his life in Tygerberg Hospital.
“Doctors have given him only a 20% chance of survival. Watching someone you love lying in a hospital bed, covered in burns, struggling to survive, is something I cannot even begin to explain properly in words,” shares a distraught Chanel.
His wife, Setho, was also injured during the fire and is completely traumatised.
As for their home, furniture, clothes – all gone.
“Almost every personal belonging they owned was destroyed in the fire. And on top of the unimaginable trauma, the reality is that Mark was the provider for the family. If he survives, he will likely be unable to work for a very long time, if ever, due to the severity of his injuries.”
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In the hopes of trying to cover medical expenses, clothing, basic necessities, recovery support, and hopefully rebuilding some form of life after this tragedy, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help them pick up the pieces.
“I know there are so many people needing help every day, but if there is any possibility of helping us, it would mean more than I can explain,” pleads Chanel.
To support Mark, Setho and Keglu through this difficult time, donate here.
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