A fire ripped through a shanty town near Cape Town in South Africa on Friday, killing two people and leaving thousands homeless, authorities said.

The fire occurred in Khayamandi, an informal settlement in a wineland area about 40 km east of Cape Town, destroying about 800 shacks and forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 people, according rescuers.

The fire, caused by an unattended paraffin stove, started in one of the shacks in Zone O in Kayamandi and rapidly swept through a large area in the early hours of Friday, the Stellenbosch Municipality said in a statement.

Kayamandi is under the jurisdiction of Stellenbosch, a picturesque town famous for vineyards.

"The intensity of the flames was such that little could be done to contain the rapid spread of the blaze although the Stellenbosch Municipality's Fire Services and Disaster Management were on the scene within minutes of being notified," the statement said.

"Although only two fatalities, both men, have been reported at this stage, the damage and losses suffered by the affected families are enormous," the statement said.

Stellenbosch municipality is being assisted by the provincial government, the social development department, in providing food and disaster housing kits.

Some victims of the fire sought shelter at friends' and relatives homes, while others stayed at the community hall.