Children left home alone perish in tragic Mpumalanga house fires

A three-year-old, who was left home alone, tragically died in a house fire in Belfast, Mpumalanga on Monday 19 April. Sadly, this was not the only case.

Mpumalanga police said that just a few days earlier, in a separate incident, two young children also left home alone perished in a house fire.

THREE CHILDREN LEFT HOME ALONE

Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said the three-year-old was left alone with her siblings at the Siyathuthuka township in Belfast.

“Reports indicate that the victim and her siblings, aged seven and nine, were left alone by their mother in the shack where they stay. When she returned home, she found the shack engulfed in flames and immediately called for help. The other two children managed to escape the fire unharmed, except the three-year-old.”

 A case of culpable homicide has been opened against the mother with an additional charge of child neglect.

“Police management in Mpumalanga urge parents and guardians not to leave their children unattended,” said Mdhluli.

COUSINS ASLEEP IN THEIR ROOM PERISH IN FIRE

Meanwhile, in a similar incident on Friday 16 April, two cousins aged seven and eight were left home alone in Masoyi when their home went up in flames.

According to information, the two children were asleep in the house at Jerusalem (at Masoyi) near White River whilst their parents were away.

“Their uncle was visiting neighbours at the time and it is said that he was notified by one of the neighbours that a spotlight at the house where the children were asleep, was off.

When the uncle returned back home, he realised that the bedroom the girls were sleeping in was on fire.

“He reportedly called other neighbours to assist extinguish the fire, however, the flames were too intense and the girls perished in the fire. An inquest case is currently being probed and a charge of child neglect will be added,” said Mdhluli.

READ: Mpumalanga: Police investigate ‘house fire mystery’ – two young girls dead