×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Pregnant mother‚ husband and son die in catastrophic wildfires on the Garden Route

A pregnant mother‚ her husband and their three-year-old son have been identified as victims of the wildfires on the Garden Route.

The Herald confirmed that Madre Johnston‚ 33‚ her husband Tony‚ 34‚ and their son Michael died while fleeing for safety from their Sedgefield smallholding. Madre was eight months pregnant.

Adding to the devastation is the fact that the family died on Michael’s third birthday.

Southern Cape police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said their bodies had been found about 15m from their smallholding home in Elandskraal‚ located between Sedgefield and Karatara.

Are Knysna fires the result of arson?Simultaneous fires starting at the same time‚ “raises a big red flag” and suggests “deliberate agency“‚ says forensic investigator David Klatzow. 

Madre’s sister‚ Linda Truscott‚ 42‚ told The Herald that Tony and Madre‚ formerly from Uitenhage‚ had been living on the small-holding while both worked at a civil engineering firm in Knysna.

 

 

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.