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Two toddlers burn to death in shack blaze

Alex Matlala

Yet another community in Limpopo is in mourning after two toddlers were burnt to death while sleeping in a shack this week.

The tragedy brings to eight the number of deaths in fires in the province in only three days.

The latest incident happened at The Willows village outside Hoedspruit, where the children - Benny, two months, and Kgaugelo Sekgobela, 11 months - died in a shack fire on Tuesday and were burnt beyond recognition.

Their mother had allegedly locked them in the house.

The toddlers' grandmother, Flora Sebatane, who works at a local farm, apparently received a call at work that her house was on fire.

When she got there she found hundreds of people with tins of water trying to extinguish the fire, which had already gutted her bedroom.

"I went crazy when I realised I had lost my two beautiful grandchildren," said the grieving granny.

Mopani area police spokesman Superintendent Moatshe Ngoepe said yesterday they were still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Ngoepe said they were investigating a case of arson.

A case of negligence could also be opened against the parents of the children.

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