The Alexandra Magistrate's Court was packed to the rafters on Tuesday when members of the community turned out in big numbers to catch a glimpse of the two women who locked up their children in a house which later caught fire, killing their four children. 

Bongiwe Ngubeni, 31, and Nelisiwe Fihlani, 28, face charges of culpable homicide, child abuse, child neglect and deliberate neglect of a child. 

Nokulunga Bhengu, who is related to the two women, burst into tears when magistrate Satya Prinsloo postponed their bail application to Friday next week.  

Gauteng social development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said the children will be buried on Saturday, adding that the accused would need to apply for permission from the authorities to attend their funerals. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at a local school.

"We went to the home of the four children and it was a sad situation," Mayathula-Khoza said. "The 14-year-old who [managed to] escape [when the house caught fire] will be supported. He will be provided with a uniform because his old one was burnt, food and counselling."