Police at Villa Nora in the Waterberg District of Limpopo have opened an inquest docket after two children, aged two and four, were burnt beyond recognition.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the horrific incident happened at the minor children’s residence in Vianeen village on Sunday night.
“Police responded to the scene at approximately 8:30pm. Upon arrival, they found community members gathered at the house, extinguishing the fire,” said Ledwaba.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the mother had left her six children inside the house. The eldest of the six children is 12 years old.
Police said the woman went to a spaza shop to collect social grant money.
“When she left, a candle was lit. Upon returning from the shop, she found her six-roomed house engulfed in flames, with community members who extinguished the fire,” said Ledwaba.
Four of her children managed to escape from the raging inferno, while the other children tragically perished, burning beyond recognition.
Meanwhile, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has expressed “deepest” condolences over the incident.
Hadebe urged community members to take extra care in a bid to prevent such tragic incidents.
Last year, IOL reported that five children, including a one-year-old girl, died in an inferno which destroyed at least six shacks in Itireleng informal settlement near Laudium in Tshwane.
The horrific incident was reported at approximately 4.30am while the children were sleeping.
“Firefighters arrived on the scene to find multiple shacks engulfed by fire and immediately started with firefighting operations,” spokesperson for the Tshwane emergency services department, Thabo Charles Mabaso, said at the time.
“Five remains of children burnt beyond recognition were discovered in the ruins of the shacks after the fire was extinguished.”
The five children were three boys aged two, four, and six and two girls aged one and seven years.
“It is alleged that the two sisters left the children in one shack overnight and went out to drink at a nearby tavern. At the time of releasing the statement, the sisters were under police arrest and taken to a local police station for questioning,” said Mabaso.
“We call upon parents and caregivers to ensure that children are always left under the care of an adult and in a safe environment.”
IOL