Police spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, said it is alleged that the man’s neighbour saw the house engulfed in flames and jumped over a fence in an attempt to rescue the occupants.
“They then broke one of the windows to get inside and in the process, managed to rescue the father who had already suffered from smoke inhalation. He died on the scene. The intense blaze and smoke forced them out,” he said.
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Mojapelo said the police and emergency personnel as well as fire fighters were immediately summoned to the scene and after the fire was extinguished, the burnt bodies of the two children were found in separate rooms.
“Preliminary police investigations revealed that the deceased and his wife were separated and that his daughters were staying with him. Both children were learners at Meridian College in Nkowankowa. It is also suspected the father set the house alight using a highly flammable substance,” he said.
The provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba has advised community members who might be facing domestic challenges or strained relationships, to seek professional help instead of resorting to extreme violence.
Mojapelo said the deceased was identified as Gledwin Mboweni, Mikateko Tonia Mboweni (13) and Tsakane Tilda Mboweni (9).
Mboweni was the acting district manager at Statistics SA (Mopani District). “The motive for the incident is unknown but domestic violence cannot be ruled out. |The police investigation is continuing.”
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The MEC for social development, Nkakareng Rakgoale has reacted with shock after receiving news of the incident and has relayed a message of condolences to the bereaved family.
Social development spokesperson, Witness Tiva said social workers were immediately dispatched to the scene to provide psychosocial support to bereaved families and other affected parties.
“Incidents of GBV are happening at an alarming rate in the province, hence we are calling on all the people to contact our social workers when they are experiencing difficulties in their relationships and families. We have our family preservation programs that are aimed at assisting families that are in conflicting and toxic relationships. Our social workers have started providing psychosocial support to the mother of the children and to other affected parties. May the souls of the two children and their father rest in peace,” she said.
