Evaton toddler dies in shack fire
A woman allegedly left her baby sleeping in a room unattended with a burning candle, after which the shack they were living in went up in flames.
A one-year-old girl has died following a shack fire in Evaton during the early hours of yesterday morning.
According to the mother of the toddler, she left her baby sleeping with a burning candle unattended.
Moments later, she was allegedly fetched at a nearby tavern by neighbors, telling her that her shack has caught fire. When she arrived at the scene, she found the shack completely engulfed by the fire.
Despite residents helping to put out the raging flames, the shack burnt down, leaving the baby dead.
Abongiwe Ntombela (31) mother of the deceased said she regret ever leaving her child.
“While I was sitting there a neighbor came rushing and told me that my shack was burning. I was met by a huge flame and a group of bystanders. I helplessly watched as my baby perished in the fire,” said Ntombela.
Reeling in guilt, Ntombela said she regrets leaving her child and not listening to her mother.
“All I hope for is my family, baby daddy, and everyone close to me to forgive me for what happened. I have learned my lesson, it’s sad that all that happened at the expense of losing my baby,” she said,
Yoliswa Ntombela grandmother to the deceased toddler said no amount of rage will reverse the incident.
“I was angry when that incident happened because I always told her about her alcohol habit leading her astray, now this. As hurt as we are, is nothing I can do now. I just hope she learned her lessons from this and will actually stop drinking,” she said.
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said police have opened an inquest docket for investigation.
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