Two killed, 2500 left homeless as fire destroys 600 shacks in Kayamandi

Two people died and 600 shacks were destroyed in South Africa's winelands after a fire ripped through a township, a fire services official said Friday.

The blaze spread rapidly across a large area in Kayamandi in the scenic wine-producing town of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, in the early hours of Friday.

"We had two fatalities," said Stellenbosch fire chief Leon Morta.

Six hundred shacks were destroyed and 2500 people left homeless.

"We suspect that it was a candle that overturned but obviously there will be a proper investigation that will determine the cause of the fire," said Morta.

Additional teams were brought in from surrounding municipalities with 12 fire engines and 50 fire fighters on the scene.

Access was hampered due to the congested lay-out of the area and residents having put their salvaged furniture in the street.

The fire was extinguished at 6am but firefighters were still working in the area to ensure it was safe.

Shack fires are common in the Cape Town area, spreading quickly through the tightly packed shack areas and often fanned by strong winds.

On New Year's Day, a major blaze left more than 3000 people homeless in a Cape Town shack area.