A former teacher at Swartland Primary School in Malmesbury and one of her dogs died in a house fire in central Paarl on Tuesday evening.
The woman, believed to be in her 60s, had moved into the house in Bethel Street only three weeks ago.
A source at the local rescue services told Paarl Post they were called to the scene around 20:00 on Tuesday evening.
“When the paramedics arrived the fire brigade was already working to get the woman out of the house. We put her down on the grass outside and tried to resuscitate her. She was then rushed to one of the hospitals in town.”
The source said the woman was pronounced dead at the hospital. She is believed to have died of smoke inhalation. They said she had no visible burns, except on her hands.
The emergency services also discovered the remains of one dog in the rubble. Another was taken to a vet by neighbours for treatment.
The woman has since been identified by family and friends as Dalene Slabbert on social media.
Swartland Primary School confirmed Slabbert had taught there for 34 years. She retired in 2019.
On Paarl Post’s visit to the house on Thursday, flowers had been placed at the entrance. The heavy smell of smoke still hung in the air.
A neighbour said she called the fire department around 19:50, after flames could be seen coming from the house’s roof.
She said Slabbert moved into the house at the beginning of September.
“She stayed here for about three weeks. When she moved in she came to introduce herself to us. In this neighbourhood we all look out for one another. I understand one of her dogs burnt to death and another dog was fighting for his life. It’s just very tragic.”
The neighbour said family members visited the house on Wednesday and collected some of the belongings that could be saved.
She said Slabbert’s daughter was in France and had already been informed of the incident.
Her husband, Johannes, died in 2021.
The police have, meanwhile, started an investigation.
See next week’s newspaper for the full story.
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