KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-Orphanage fire kills 11 in rural South Africa
Member Center:
Drug lords, bomb threats and more: young aspiring police officers train, compete at conference More>>
Arizona sheriff forges ahead with aggressive immigration sweeps even after court ruling More>>
Quest for freedom a full-time job for mothers of 3 American hikers jailed for 1 year in Iran More>>
Wildlife officials await test results to confirm captured bears attacked campers More>>
In quiet South Carolina town, another skirmish in immigration battle as councilman seeks ban More>>
For Clintons' understated only daughter, $3 million is enough to get married in style More>>
Toyota recalls thousands of Avalons, Lexus SUVs in US over steering problems More>>
By NKEMELENG NKOSI
Associated Press Writer
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - A South African orphanage director died a hero, rescuing nine children as their rural home burned, local media reported Wednesday.
The blaze early Tuesday killed Sarah Holland, the director and founder of the Hope of Christ Home in KwaZulu-Natal province, along with two adults and eight children between the ages of 4 and 15.
Holland, known as Granny, had gathered the children into the only room without burglar bars, according to one of the children who survived.
"Granny passed us all the little babies," Zanele Nkosi, 11, told The Times newspaper. "I gave the babies to my friend and we put them (on) one side and waited for others."
Holland had operated the orphanage in her home on a small farm, said Mandla Ngema, spokesman for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Department. Three of her grandchildren who were living with her were among the dead.
"There was a fire escape, however, it was at night and it was an accident so we don't know what happened," Ngema told AP.
The cause of the blaze remained under investigation. Authorities initially had said that 15 people had died Tuesday, but revised the toll on Wednesday.
The Star reported Holland apparently died of smoke inhalation.
A neighbor, Albert Kubheka, told eTV: "I heardpeople crying inside. We tried to rescue them, but we couldn't get inside as the flames were too big.
"Then they were quiet and we realized they were dead."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
