SEBOKENG. – A Sebokeng zone 7 family of four has died of suspected gas fume inhalation. Father Amos Mahlaba (54), Mother Dima Mahlaba (43) and their two daughters Nikiwe Mahlaba(13) and Lethabo Mahlaba (10) were found dead in the early hours on Saturday morning.
According to neighbour Ntswaki Moropodi (27), she smelled something burning and the smell led her to the Mahlaba house. Upon further inspection, she noticed a lot of smoke coming from the house and immediately called her family members to go to the house.
“We jumped the fence and when we got to the door, we noticed that the burglar gate was locked but the door was slightly opened. My brother was able to retrieve the key from the door and managed to open the burglar gate.
“When we entered, we first saw Mrs Mahlaba lying on the kitchen floor, Mr Mahlaba was also on the floor next to their bedroom door.” Moropodi said Lethabo was on the floor in the bedroom and Nikiwe was on her bed.
Moropodi says that the family uses gas to prepare their meals because they have not had electricity since August last year. “If we had electricity, this would never have happened.”
Nkadimeng Phiri (39) says she arrived at 04:00 in the morning after she received a call that something had happened at her sister’s house.
“On arrival, I found members of the community outside the yard. As I went into the house, the police alerted me that my sister, her husband and their two kids had passed on. I never expected any of this, my sister and her husband were like parents to us. I don’t know if the families will ever heal from this.”
The family will be buried on Saturday.
