Three children from Mabidi outside Vuwani were burnt to death inside a mud house in the early hours of Sunday. Nyeleti Mathavha (9), Kulani Mathavha (6) and Titswalo Mathavha (4) were nearly burnt beyond recognition in the incident.

Police spokesman Col Ronél Otto said preliminary investigations revealed that the three were staying with their 46-year-old grandmother when the incident happened. “It is alleged that the grandmother was not at home when the fire started at approximately 01:00 on Sunday morning. By the time members of the police arrived on the scene, the two mud houses were already destroyed by the flames,” Otto said.

According to Otto, the cause of the fire is not yet known and members from the forensic services will conduct investigations at the scene to try and determine what had caused it. Otto revealed, however, that the police are at present investigating allegations that the houses were set alight because the mother of the children was involved in a stock theft.

“The children’s mother, Tshituka Rosemary Mathava (28), and four other people were recently arrested on allegations that they had stolen a cow and slaughtered the animal. She appeared in court and was released on bail.  Investigations into this case are also continuing,” said Otto.