As Gloria Abrahams clings to life in a Cape Town hospital, her father is left to take stock after a fire shattered his family and altered the fibre of Mitchells Plain.

Patrick Abrahams will mourn the loss of his teenage sons, Kyle and Joshua, as well as 3-year-old Nikita, his grandchildren Cameron, Elmarie and Tamiya, and his daughter’s partner, who all died in the flames that quickly engulfed the small semi-detached house on Macbeth Street, Eastridge on Saturday.

Recounting the horror that faced neighbours, a man who would not be named described the enormity of the blaze.

”The flames were so big, nobody could have gone in there,” he said.

”They even tried to break a hole in the roof to get to them,” he said, pointing where the small house stood gutted, a gaping hole where the roof should have been.

”I woke up with a noise and when I came out the fire was so fierce. Nobody could do anything… nothing.”

Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille, has sent her condolences to the relatives of the nine victims.

“We know that nothing can ease their pain in the midst of this heartbreak, but we are attempting to assist this family in an effort to ease some of the strain,” said De Lille.

She said the City of Cape Town’s disaster response team would assist the family with food parcels, blankets, clothing, vanity packs and building materials.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Abrahams and his family during this time of immeasurable loss. We also carry the four family members who are still in hospital in our thoughts and wish them a swift recovery. It is my hope that the Abrahams family will find strength and comfort from their loved ones and all fellow Capetonians, during this time of bereavement,” said De Lille.