2 Pretoria children die in mystery home fire
Two children from Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, died in a fire recently, leaving the family with questions around the cause of the inferno.
Their mother Mpho Chauke said she was away to celebrate her 34th birthday with her friends and had left the children in the care of their 18-year-old brother, Pretoria Rekord reports
“When I go to work, I’m used to leaving them with him. So it was not the first time,” Chauke said.
“He was sleeping in a separate room outside the house as the children had also fallen asleep.
“He locked the door so that when I came back I could get the keys from him, to go to the room where the children were sleeping,” Chauke said.
On the night in question, the electricity was off and no candles were used.
“The electricity was gone before the rain started. An eyewitness who went past our home 10 minutes before the fire, later told me that there was no sign of flames,” she said.
“All of a sudden there was a fire. We were later told my children did not die of burns but were killed by the smoke.”
Chauke said the children were still breathing when her son took them out of the burning room.
“When he took the children out, he started with my sister’s child and she was rushed to Soshanguve 3 clinic. My children could not get transport that fast. One of the children died while we were looking for transport and the other died while we were on our way to the clinic.”
Chauke said she did not know how she will face the reality of her children being buried on Saturday.
Grandfather Josiya Chauke said he was saddened about what happened to his grandchildren.
“When my grandchildren arrive from the mortuary, I do not know how we will handle it because that will be the reality that they are gone.
“My daughter is devastated at losing her two children like this. Her oldest son is very hurt and on the day of the incident he was inconsolable.”
The children were buried on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Captain Samuel Sebola said it was suspected that the cause of death was smoke inhalation.
“Both victims were certified dead by the doctor. The third victim was treated and discharged.
“The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Mabopane fire service was contacted to assist with the investigation as to what could be the cause of the fire.”
Sebola said police were investigating.
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