EVATON – A one-year-five-months girl has died following a shack fire in Evaton during the early hours of Saturday morning, July 15. According to the mother of the toddler, she left her baby sleeping with a burning candle unattended.
Moments later, she was fetched at a nearby drinking spot by neighbors, telling her that her shack has caught fire. When she arrived at the scene, she found the shack completely engulfed by the fire.
Despite residents helping to put out the raging flames, the shack burnt down, leaving the baby in ashes.
Abongiwe Ntombela (31) mother of the deceased said she regret ever leaving her child.
“Friday afternoon I was sitting at my drinking spot when it got late, I took my baby to bed because she was sleeping. I didn’t realize I left the candle burning before heading back to my business,” she said.
“While I was sitting there a neighbor came rushing and told me that my shack was burning. I was met by a huge flame and a group of bystanders. I helplessly watched as my baby perished in the fire,” said Ntombela.
Reeling in guilt, Ntombela said she regret leaving her child and not listening to her mother.
“My mother always told me how she hated alcohol, but I continued to ignore her and drink my life away. If it wasn’t for this alcohol, I would still be having my daughter. Her father doesn’t believe because there’s no sign of the baby except her ash and bits and pieces of organs,” said the distraught mother.
“All I hope for is my family, baby daddy, and everyone close to me to forgive me for what happened. I have learned my lesson, it’s sad that all that happened at the expense of losing my baby,” she said,
Yoliswa Ntombela grandmother to the deceased toddler said no amount of rage will reverse the incident.
“I was angry when that incident happened because I always told her about her alcohol habit leading her astray, now this. As hurt as we are, is nothing I can do now. I just hope she learned her lessons from this and will actually stop drinking,” she said.
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said police have opened an inquest docket for investigation.
