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FIVE DEAD IN SHOP FIRE

WHILE the Mohavi family was celebrating Christmas Day in Maputo, their four sons and a friend in Soweto were burnt beyond recognition in a shop.

WHILE the Mohavi family was celebrating Christmas Day in Maputo, their four sons and a friend in Soweto were burnt beyond recognition in a shop.

The Mohavi brothers, Domenik, Harmino, Samito and Maxwell, all between the ages of 26 to 30, were asleep in the shop and a friend when the fire started.

It is alleged the fire started at a two-plate stove.

The family's spokesperson, Moses Come, said they were greatly saddened by the passing of his brothers.

He tried to hold back the tears as he spoke about a future without them.

"It's not going to be the same without them in my life, in the lives of their kids and their spouses because all of them were bread-winners," Moses said.

The corner shop is situated at Tladi location in Soweto. It was burnt together with two other shops in the building.

One shopkeeper lost stock worth R60000 plus two computers.

Pule Christopher Nthute and his wife Lerato said they thought someone had broken into the shop until they unlocked the door.

"Everything was a mess. The roof was on the floor," Lerato said.

"I almost lost my mind when I saw my money floating in the water and all of my stock burnt," she said.

She said she had bought more stock than usual because of the festive period.

Emergency Management Services Spokesperson Percy Morokane said the cause of the fire was being investigated.

"An inquest docket has been opened and all factors will be taken into consideration," he said.

"It is possible that they left a two-plate stove on and that they passed out after an excessive intake of alcohol."

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