Five children died in shack fire, grandmother and mother arrested

The tragic incident that occurred in Itireleng informal Settlement, near Laudium, has left the community in shock and disbelief.

Five innocent children, aged between 1 and 6, lost their lives after being locked inside a shack by their grandmother and mother – Lindiwe Machaka 39, and Zanele Machaka 37.

Lindiwe is the grandmother of two of the children, while Zanele is the mother of the other three.

The two women have been charged with five counts of culpable homicide and appeared in Atteridgeville Magistrate’s court to face justice.

The matter has been remanded to September 5, 2023, for a formal bail application.

It is alleged that on the evening of August 27, 2023, the two women went to a nearby tavern, leaving the five children locked inside the shack.

While they were still out, the shack caught fire, and the children were unable to escape.

The tragedy has left the community heartbroken and outraged.

It is unclear why the women left the children alone in the shack, but their negligence resulted in the death of five innocent lives.

The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, has confirmed that the two women were arrested at the tavern on the same day and are currently in custody.

The community has come together to mourn the loss of the children and demand justice for their deaths. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible caretaking and the devastating consequences of neglect.