Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has condemned the murders of two kids by suspects who were allegedly looking for their father.

The two girls, Tinyiko and Mpfumo Mashaba aged 4 and 7 from Soshanguve outside Tshwane, died when the shack they were in was set alight by the gunmen, who were allegedly after their father. The suspects had allegedly already shot six other people at a shebeen in the same area, killing two. "It is unconscionable that such horrific incident occurs during a period when our country is commemorating Child Protection Week. It highlights the urgent need for swift action from law enforcement to bring perpetrators to book. The full might of the law must be demonstrated to ensure justice for the victims and their families," Lamola said.

The mother of the two girls Itumeleng Mashaba gave details of the horrific event that led to the death of her kids and said that she and the children's father were on their way back to their shack when they heard someone open their gate. "I went and stood behind the shack and heard a conversation between my daughters and the perpetrator. The man kicked the gate and I heard him kicking the door. He asked the kids where me and their father were and my eldest child responded that I was not around but would return soon. He told them they were going to die because their father loves money. I then heard gunshots," said Mashaba. She said she believes her opening the gate alerted the perpetrator that they were outside because he came towards her. "I ran and he chased after me. He managed to catch me but I escaped. He said it would not end well. I was about four streets away from my home when I saw smoke and I knew my kids were gone. The father of my children also managed to escape. I think he was shocked because he had heard his friend was shot earlier by the same guy who killed our children," Mashaba said.

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said a team of detectives are tracing and seeking to arrest the suspects who allegedly shot six people and burned a shack where two girls were sleeping. "It is reported that armed suspects arrived at a shebeen at Changing Spot informal settlement in Soshanguve and fired shots at the patrons around 19:30. Two of the victims, a male and a female, died on the scene, and the other four were taken to the nearest medical care centre," Masondo said. He said the suspects proceeded to a shack in the same area where they allegedly set it alight where two young girls were sleeping. "The girls were both certified dead on the scene,". Masondo said preliminary investigation suggests that the suspects were after the father of the girls who was not at home at the time.