According to reports, the grandmother left the children in the yard at approximately 10:00 to attend a funeral service in the same village.  She returned home at about 15:30 and found the minors' lifeless bodies inside an old and unused vehicle that was parked in the yard. Of the three children, two of them (Thabo and Thoriso Mohibidu) are a brother and a sister while the six-year-old Bokao Sheleng, is a neighbours’ child and a friend of Thabo and Thoriso.  

Members of the community and parents are urged to take proper care of their children to avoid tragic incidents such as this one.

Days earlier, on Saturday 14 November 2020, another tragic incident occurred in the Mammutla Village in Taung, also in the North West, where three children were found dead inside a fridge/freezer.

Residents are devastated and blamed the lack of basic services in their village for the death of the three learners. Local chief Rajane Mothibi of Batlhaping Ba Ga Mothibi says his village has no basic services, such as water and electricity. Significantly, there are no recreational facilities for kids. The learners were allegedly playing outside when they got trapped in the old unused fridge/freezer.

The investigations into both matters are underway.

SAPS statement