Two siblings have been apprehended subsequent to a conflagration that resulted in the incineration of their five offspring, rendering them unidentifiable. This fire incident also led to the destruction of a minimum of six makeshift dwellings situated in the Itireleng informal settlement near Laudium in Tshwane, South Africa.
The occurrence was documented at approximately 4.30am on Sunday, August 27, 2023.
According to a statement made by Thabo Charles Mabaso, the spokesperson for the Tshwane emergency services department, it has been suspected that the moms of the children in question left them alone overnight and engaged in social activities at a nearby pub. This statement was released on Monday, August 28.
According to Mabaso, firefighters promptly initiated firefighting operations upon their arrival at the scene, where they discovered several shacks fully consumed by fire.
"Five corpses of children charred beyond recognition were discovered in the debris 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.
According to allegations, the two sisters purportedly left the children alone in a single dwelling for the duration of the night, while they reportedly engaged in the consumption of alcoholic beverages at a tavern in close proximity. According to Mabaso, at the moment of issuing the statement, the sisters were apprehended by the police and afterwards transported to a nearby police station for the purpose of interrogation.
The individual stated that an inquiry is currently being conducted to ascertain the factors contributing to the ignition of the fire.
Mabaso emphasized the importance of parents and caregivers ensuring that children are consistently supervised by responsible adults and placed in secure surroundings.
