A 2-year-old girl burned to death in her home in Emvundlweni village just outside Edendale.
|||Durban - A 2-year-old girl burned to death in her home in Emvundlweni village just outside Edendale on Wednesday.
The toddler, Sinakonke Mahlaba, and her 3-year-old brother, Ziphosonke, were believed to have been at home with their partially blind grandfather, Joseph Zondi, when the fire started.
Firemen at the scene told the Daily News that investigations indicated the children had been playing with matches, which started the fire.
Zondi, 83, told firemen that he had been home alone with the children while his wife went to town.
He said he had been taking a nap when the fire began and was woken by Ziphosonke’s screams.
The elderly man quickly picked up Ziphosonke and rushed him out of the already burning house.
By the time he had managed to get the boy to safety, the house became engulfed in flames and he was unable to get back inside to save his granddaughter.
The child’s body was recovered by the police’s search and rescue unit.
The children’s father, Bonginkosi Mnikathi, said he was devastated.
“I still can’t believe this has happened,” said the emotional father.
“My mind is only thinking about what a painful, scary death my child suffered. I don’t know what to say. I am in so much pain.”
The children were living with their grandparents because of their parents’ work commitments.
Fire department spokesman, Nathi Mchunu, confirmed that indications strongly pointed to the fire having started in the children’s bedroom where matches were found.
The investigation is ongoing.
Daily News