Pitso Molemane
The Itireleng Informal Settlement tragedy that claimed the lives of five children has taken a legal turn as the two sisters implicated in the incident are expected to appear in the Atteridgeville Court in Pretoria today.
The two suspects, aged 37 and 38, have been formally charged with culpable homicide. It is alleged that the sisters locked the five children inside a shack before leaving to consume alcohol at a nearby tavern. Tragically, the shack caught fire, resulting in the loss of young lives that were burnt beyond recognition.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile following his visit to Itireleng Informal Settlement in Pretoria on Monday.
Listen to the full conversation here:
Gauteng police have identified the women. One of the sisters is the mother of three of the deceased children, while the other was the babysitter on the night of the tragedy. The circumstances surrounding the incident have raised questions about neglect and responsibility, sparking a broader conversation about the safety and well-being of children in vulnerable situations.
Gauteng Human Settlement MEC Lebogang Maile has publicly expressed his condemnation of the tragic event. The incident has prompted Maile to advocate for the destruction of the Itireleng Informal Settlement and the relocation of its residents to safer accommodations.
The response from the Itireleng community has been profound. Many residents have expressed the hope that this shocking incident will serve as a strong deterrent against parents leaving their children unattended.
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