Three children aged between two and six years old suffocated inside a family vehicle parked in a yard in in Jamela village outside Tzaneen, on Wednesday.

Police received a complaint from a local clinic at about 14:00 when three children – in critical condition – were brought by their parents after they were discovered lying unconscious inside a parked sedan. Upon arrival, they found two girls (aged two and six) were already certified dead.

The third child, a three-year-old boy, passed away yesterday morning.

According to information available at this stage, two children: A three-year-old boy and his six-year-old sister, went to play next door with the two-year-old girl and while playing, they got inside a parked car with all the windows closed.

“They were later discovered unconscious by a younger relative who alerted the elders. The three children were then rushed to the local clinic.

“Two were declared dead on arrival, and the third child was transferred to Kgapane Hospital and later to Mankweng where he was admitted and later pronounced dead. The police in Bolobedu outside Tzaneen have opened an inquest docket and are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident,” says Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

The provincial commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has ordered the police to leave no stone unturned in the investigation surrounding ‘these mysterious deaths’. She also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and adhere to safety guidelines ‘to prevent such devastating incidents’.