Sleeping 5-year-old dies in fire

A ranging fire killed two Mokoena family members in Hlalanikahle during the middle of the night.
The fire like a criminal trying to steal from their victims, came in the still of the night resulting in Mr Abednego Mokoena (47) and young Buhle Mokoena (5) being killed while asleep in the three roomed shack. The shack was totally destroyed by the fire. The incident happened on Sunday, November 29 at midnight.

Mr Abednego Mokoena (47) was killed during a fire at his home in Hlalanikahle Phase 2 on Sunday night.

According to Mrs Thandeka Mokoena wife to Abednego, she said the father was asleep with his two children, Buhle and Thandiwe (11) when Thandiwe woke up and saw that the house was on fire. She managed to escape and ran outside to alert neighbours who came to help trying to put out the raging fire. The neighbours tried their best to put out the fire but it was all in vain as the fire was very strong. Fire engines came to assist to put out the fire.

Young Buhle Mokoena (5) was also killed in the shack fire that also destroyed the three-room shack.

Both Mokoena and his daughter were burned but is said that Mokena was burned beyond recognition when his body was pulled out of the shack. It is suspected that the fire was caused by a heater which was left on while they went to sleep. Thandiwe escaped unharmed from the fire.
The family said that nothing was saved from the fire, all the furniture that was inside was burned and had to be thrown away. The family was counting its loss put the painful part was losing two family members within minutes.

The debris of what used to be the Mokoena family shack which burned down on Sunday in the middle of the night.

“We have lost two lovely people, Abednego was a good family man who was loved and loved his family. Apart from that he was well known within the community and was loved as well. Buhle was attending a local pre-school, just enjoyed her young life and just loved laughing, singing and dancing. We shall definitely miss their love and it was just a joy to have them in the family,” said Mrs Mokoena.

Mr Mokoena was employed in the Community Work Programme (CWP).
The family were still busy with funeral preparation.

Police have opened a case of arson.