By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za

Spokesperson for the City of Tshwane’s Emergency Services Department,Thabo Charles Mabaso said the cause of fire that claimed the lives of five children is still unknown.

The kids died when about six shacks were ravaged by a fire in Itireleng informal settlement near Laudium in Pretoria in the early hours of 27 August 2023.

Mabaso said the incident was reported at approximately 04:26.

“Firefighters arrived on the scene to find multiple shacks engulfed by fire and immediately started with firefighting operations.

“Five remains of children burnt beyond recognition were discovered in the ruins of the shacks after the fire was extinguished.

“The five children, three boys aged 2, 4 and 6 and two girls aged 1 year five months and 7 years of age belonged to two sisters.

“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.

He said the circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire are still under investigation.

According to Sowetan, in June this year, four kids died in Katlehong shack fire.

The children, aged between four and 10, were burnt beyond recognition.

The family claimed the fire was allegedly started by a man who was also killed in the blaze.

“They screamed for two minutes. I heard them crying and banging the shack, desperately needing help.”

Mfundo Lunika recounted the tragic events of Saturday night when his nephew, three nieces and a 31-year-old man died in a shack fire in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg.

Lunika was sitting just metres away from the scene, where Olona Njozela, 10, Lilitha Njozela, 7, Ayabonga Njozela, 5, Nqobile Njozela, 4, and Monaheng Moloi, the sole adult, died.

Moloi was in a relationship with Bulelwa Njozela, the mother of Ayabonga. The children’s mothers are sisters. Olona was a Grade 5 pupil at Katlehong Primary School, while Lilitha was in Grade 1 at Thabang Primary School. Ayabonga was in Grade R at Thabang Primary School. News24

“We call upon parents and caregivers to ensure that children are always left under the care of an adult and in a safe environment,” said Mabaso.

On another horrific story that occurred in September 2018, the Gauteng department of social development revealed how four children were trapped inside their Alexandra home when it caught fire at the weekend.

“The four children died in the early hours of Sunday morning in a two-roomed backroom with only one window that was too high for them to reach‚” said department spokesperson Mbangwa Xaba.

“Their 14-year-old brother and cousin who survived [were] locked in another room. They were locked inside the house by their mothers who went on a whole-night drinking spree. Neighbours tracked them to a shebeen where they were arrested‚” Xaba added.

The youngest of the children‚ Amukelani Ngubeni‚ was just two years old. The other children were named as four-year-old Sandile Ngubeni and Nhlanhla Ngubeni‚ who was seven. Their cousin‚ Mbali Fihlani‚ was just five years

“I’m saddened by this incident. Parents should take care of their children but if they can’t‚ they should hand over the children to the Gauteng department of social development because we have places of safety and secure care places which are conducive for their care and protection‚” said social development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.

“No child should die in such a tragic manner. This simply should not be happening‚” she added.

Pics supplied.