Parents in court after unsupervised children die in shack fire

An Mpumalanga couple appeared in court on Monday in connection with the deaths of their two children, who burnt to death on Christmas Day after being left home alone.

Their 2-year-old daughter and 3-month-old son were killed in a shack fire in the KwaZamokuhle settlement in Hendrina.

David Mashiloane, 45, and Rebecca Mtshweni, 23, were not asked to plead to charges of abuse, deliberate neglect and abandonment of children when they appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate's Court.

Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the couple were arrested when they returned home.



"While they were having fun, the shack caught fire at approximately 20:45. Police and the fire department were summoned to the scene. The kids were found lying on the mattress burnt to death after the fire was extinguished," he said.

He said the parents arrived home about four hours later, at about 01:00. He said they were intoxicated. They were remanded in custody until January 11 pending a formal bail application.