Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, previously told OFM News, that on Friday morning the family’s neighbours heard screams emanating from their shack.

Upon checking what was wrong they found the shack in question engulfed in flames. While they did alert first responders, it was however too late. Once the flames were extinguished the lifeless bodies of the children - aged 1 and 4 - and their 20-year-old mother, were found.

In a separate incident last week, ten people from different Ceres families were killed in a fire that broke out at the Blinkwater Lodge at Witdraai in the Northern Cape. The ages of those who died range between 3 and 37 years old.

This as the Mangaung Metro Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning to residents in Bloemfontein, Dewetsdorp, Thaba’ Nchu and Botshabelo against making fires, especially in the veld. Winter is notoriously known as the fire season in South Africa, with many residents in impoverished areas, starting fires in an effort to keep warm.

Last week, Mangaung spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, told media the Fire & Rescue Units in Bloemfontein and Thaba Nchu responded to approximately 26 fires and incidents, 18 of which were grassfires that started small. The Fire Danger Index currently indicates the risk of veld fires as very dangerous in the Mangaung area.

OFM News