Elisha Molefe
On Saturday little Tshegofatso Tsubane turned one year old.
The next day she was dead.
At dawn on Sunday she and her four-year-old cousin were burned beyond recognition when flames engulfed their bedroom, while her mother slept with her new lover in the next room.
Now Kefiloe Tsubane, 25, has blamed Tshegofatso's father, whom she had jilted, for her daughter's death.
Neighbours said Tsubane and her younger sister were sleeping with their boyfriends in separate rooms while Tshegofatso, her cousin Kgomotso Tsubane and her three-year-old brother Lebogang shared a bed in the other room.
The neighbours, who did not want to be named, said the sleeping sisters were unaware of the fire until they woke them up at about 2am on Sunday.
"We had to break the door down to try to rescue the children, but we could only save the boy. The girls were burnt beyond recognition," said a neighbour.
The little boy, Lebogang, was taken to hospital with first-degree burns.
Tsubane claimed the house was torched by her former boyfriend because she had ended their relationship.
"He told me he would kill me if I ever left him. He thought I was in that bedroom when he torched it. He also killed my sister's child as well. How am I going to look my sister in the eye again?
"This is the kind of birthday he gives his daughter," said Tsubane.
Superintendent Lebogang Mokgothu said an inquest docket had been opened.
No one had been arrested and investigations were continuing, said Mokgothu. He would not say whether Tsubane's allegations were being investigated or not.
Two kids burn to death in home
Elisha Molefe
On Saturday little Tshegofatso Tsubane turned one year old.
The next day she was dead.
At dawn on Sunday she and her four-year-old cousin were burned beyond recognition when flames engulfed their bedroom, while her mother slept with her new lover in the next room.
Now Kefiloe Tsubane, 25, has blamed Tshegofatso's father, whom she had jilted, for her daughter's death.
Neighbours said Tsubane and her younger sister were sleeping with their boyfriends in separate rooms while Tshegofatso, her cousin Kgomotso Tsubane and her three-year-old brother Lebogang shared a bed in the other room.
The neighbours, who did not want to be named, said the sleeping sisters were unaware of the fire until they woke them up at about 2am on Sunday.
"We had to break the door down to try to rescue the children, but we could only save the boy. The girls were burnt beyond recognition," said a neighbour.
The little boy, Lebogang, was taken to hospital with first-degree burns.
Tsubane claimed the house was torched by her former boyfriend because she had ended their relationship.
"He told me he would kill me if I ever left him. He thought I was in that bedroom when he torched it. He also killed my sister's child as well. How am I going to look my sister in the eye again?
"This is the kind of birthday he gives his daughter," said Tsubane.
Superintendent Lebogang Mokgothu said an inquest docket had been opened.
No one had been arrested and investigations were continuing, said Mokgothu. He would not say whether Tsubane's allegations were being investigated or not.