A shack fire in the early hours of Saturday morning, September 13, claimed the lives of three siblings in Freedom Square informal settlement, now known as Phumasilwe.

According to residents, the children, aged 17, 15, and 13, were asleep inside the shack when it caught alight.

Their mother was reportedly not home at the time. Neighbouring shacks were also affected, but residents managed to escape.

Captain Neldah Sekgobela, spokesperson for the SAPS, confirmed the incident and said police have opened an inquest docket.

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“The cause of the fire is unknown. However, the mother of the deceased children, aged 42, has been arrested for child neglect,” she said.

Community members expressed their devastation at the loss of life.

A representative of the Community Police Forum and Memeza Responder said it was heartbreaking to witness children perish under such circumstances.

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“Innocent children don’t deserve to lose their lives because of negligence. We urge parents facing difficulties to seek help, as there are NPOs, government initiatives, and social workers available to assist families in need.”

At this stage, the mother remains in police custody, and no court date has been confirmed.