Police spokesperson, Josephine Rani, tells OFM News that the children, aged 6 months, 1, 3, and 11 years old, burned to death when their shack caught fire this past Saturday.

She says the incident took place at around eleven at night. Rani says the children were sleeping in one room of the shack while the grandmother was sleeping in another room outside. Rani did not specify whether they will be investigating a case of arson.

The incident comes in the wake of two mothers accused of culpable homicide and negligence after their four children lost their lives in a fire on 16 September this year.

They were granted R1 000 bail each by the Alexandra Regional Magistrate’s Court on 28 September and appeared in court yesterday.

Bongiwe Ngubeni and Nelisiwe Fihlani are facing these charges after their children Nhlanhla Ngubeni (7), Sandile Ngubeni (4), Amukelani Ngubeni (2), and Mbalenhle Fihlani (5) perished in the fire that was allegedly caused by a heater in the early hours of 16 September.

It was alleged that the incident occurred while the two mothers went out for an overnight party and left their children with 14-year-old Simphiwe Ngubeni, who survived the inferno.

OFM News