In a tragic incident, four children were burnt to death inside a one-roomed house at Calais village, outside Tzaneen, in Limpopo yesterday. The three siblings and their cousin were aged between three and 11.

MOM WENT RUNNING ERRANDS

SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the mother locked the children inside while she went to run some errands. "A preliminary investigation revealed that the mother left her three girls, aged three, seven, and nine, with her 11-year-old nephew sleeping when she went to her mother's residence nearby to collect food items for her other child, who was returning from the initiation school," said Ledwaba. Upon the mother's return, she found the house on fire. "The children were trapped inside, and their identities are withheld due to an ongoing investigation." The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

BURN WOUNDS

Meanwhile, on the 5th of July, a jealousy-fuelled argument led to the death of a three-year-old girl and her mother being seriously injured, again in Limpopo. Colonel Ledwaba said an argument ensued between the suspect and the 24-year-old mother of the child in Moremadi Park. During the fight, the suspect allegedly hit the little girl with a spade, causing a fatal wound to the upper body, before pouring boiling water on her love rival.

The victim sustained severe burn wounds. She was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.