81-year-old East London woman burns to death in new RDP home

An 81-year-old woman burnt to death in her new RDP home in Section G Needs Camp in East London on Monday.

The incident happened in the early hours of the morning, said police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala.

"According to a neighbour ... the victim’s house [was] in flames in the early hours of this morning," said Mqala

"The neighbour called other neighbours, who all attempted to extinguish the flames - but all was in vain. The charred remains of the elderly woman were retrieved from the gutted home.

"The cause of the fire is unknown."

The woman was alone in the house at the time of her death. It was not immediately clear if she lived alone.