A MUM is heartbroken and shocked after losing three children in a shack fire on Monday 29, May in Vila Lisa, near Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
It is still not clear what caused the fire, but Sinenhlanhla Vilakazi (23) said she suspects it could be an electric fault.
The three children who died are Nosipho (8), Nolwandle (5) and Nonkanyiso (3).
She said she wished God could have taken her life and spared her children.
“These children were too young to die. They had so much life ahead of them. When I see neighbour’s children playing in the streets, it pains me because they remind reminds me of my dead children,” Sinenhlanhla said.
She said on Monday, 29 May, a woman she knows told her she had found a job for her and said they should meet the following day in Germiston.
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“It was during load shedding and when the electricity came back, I went out to borrow money for transport. I left my girls and Nosipho was doing her homework. I told her I will be back soon,” said the heartbroken mom.
She said little did she know it would be the last time seeing her children alive.
She said she saved her social grants and bought beds for the kids to ensure that they sleep comfortable at night.
"My kids always gave me hope by telling me things will be okay one day. My biggest wish was to make a better life for them. I’m heartbroken. That shack I built for them is where they all died,” she said.
She said the good news of getting a job dug the graves of her kids.
“I wish they could have sustained burn injuries than perishing in the fire. I’ve come a long way with these kids. I used to make sure they get food even if I had nothing to eat. I was hoping I was going to change their lives and even take them out to a restaurant,” said Sinenhlanhla.
Sinenhlanhla’s sister, Busisiwe Sibisi, said the family is still in shock, adding that her sister lost everything.
“We will never forget such a tragedy. The kids died a painful death. We are appealing for help. My sister is not working and she has no funeral policy. She does not have money to bury her children and there's nothing in her shack,” Busisiwe said.
Dawn Park police spokeswoman Sergeant Nkemeleng Mabula confirm the incident
She said: “An inquest docket has been opened and the cause of fire is unknown. The matter is under investigation."
