Elderly Eastern Cape woman dies in house fire

An 85-year-old woman burnt to death in her home at Thongwana village in Butterworth, Eastern Cape police said on Thursday.

"It is alleged that the elderly woman, who was staying alone, was cooking food at around 10.30pm [when the fire started on Tuesday]," said police spokesperson captain Jackson Manatha.

"The house of the granny was seen engulfed by flames by members of the community," Manatha said.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Manatha said the identity of the woman was being withheld until relatives had been informed of her death.