According to Dawn Park police spokesperson Charles Tshabalala, the station has filed a case of negligence against their mother, Carol Ndala, as further investigations to the cause of fire continue.
Tshabalala says Ndala allegedly left the coal stove on to keep the children warm, before locking them in the shack and leaving at about 8am.
According to the boys’ father, Mokakala Mahlehla, the family is very disturbed by the incident.
“I feel very exhausted and have no strength to deal with this tragedy,” he said. ”
When I saw their lifeless, burnt bodies, I felt like crying, but had to restrain myself, as a man.”
The mother was, at the time, too distraught to comment on the incident.
Tshabalala says children should not be left alone with open fires, candles or stoves.
“I urge parents not to leave children with unattended fires, because they don’t know anything about safety and hazardous elements,” he advises.
In this incident, there is the possibility that the children may have got close to the stove with a blanket, that could have caught fire.”
What is, however, unclear, is exactly what happened in the shack, since the boys were found lying on their mattresses once the fire had been extinguished.
Five hours after the incident had been reported, only Dawn Park police were on the scene and there was no sign of emergency services (EMS).
The Advertiser is still awaiting comment from the EMS, to explain the delay.
Further updates will follow during the week.
