Five people, including four children, died in two incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning in Johannesburg on Thursday, authorities said.

In one incident, a two-month old girl, a four-year-old boy and another 12-year-old girl died after inhaling toxic fumes from a "imbawula" fire inside their house, Johannesburg Emergency Services (JES) said.

An imbawula is a makeshift coal stove made out of a large tin with holes in the side.

The children's mother and a six-year-old boy were taken to a nearby hospital and were in a critical condition, the South African Broadcasting Corporation said.

In a separate incident, a man, 26, and a 16-year-old boy were found dead in a shack in Diepsloot, Johannesburg.

They had also used an imbawula in their home and died from inhaling carbon monoxide, according to JES spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi.

Mulaudzi cautioned against the use of small fires inside households.

"People need to look after their heating and lighting appliances and use imbawula outside their homes," Mulaudzi said.

"We need to make sure that everyone is safe during these cold temperatures," the spokesperson added.

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