A woman appeared in court on Wednesday after allegedly locking her six-year-old child and her mother (51) inside a house and intentionally using candles to start a fire that killed both.

The incident occurred in Yawani Street in Zone 9 in Thembalethu, George, at approximately 03:00 on Monday.

Frances Helen (aka Bulelwa) Steenkamp (29) made her first court appearance in the George Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Steenkamp faces charges of murder and arson, after her daughter Avethandwa, and mother Angela Steenkamp, died in the blaze.

It is believed she lit candles and put them underneath the beds in both bedrooms and the living room.

She allegedly stayed until she was sure the furniture caught fire before she locked the doors and left the shack burning with her daughter and mother locked inside.

She then walked down the street and casually watched the informal home burning to the ground, while neighbours and residents clambered to kill the blaze.

Fortunately, no other homes were involved in the inferno and no other injuries were reported.

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Seargent Chris Spies, police responded and found human remains in the debris.

At the time of publishing, court details could not be confirmed.

According to family friend Marshall Muller, Angela was a much-loved teacher at a crèche in Lawaaikamp for many years.

“She really loved her community, her work and looking after the little ones. She was an example of love for her people. This is the main reason I let her look after my children as well. I knew they were safe with her. Her untimely death leaves a giant hole and I don’t know how it can ever be filled,” he says.