Police said it was alleged that the mother, aged 28, was intoxicated at the time of the incident. It was not clear whether the mother had tried to also take her own life in the fire.
Mohlala said: “Reports indicate that before the authorities were called, members of the community noticed the blazing fire at a shack and they began screaming. That was when the woman was somehow rescued but sadly, after the fire was extinguished, the charred tiny remains of the child were found in the rubble.”
The woman has been charged with murder. She is due to appear before the Emalahleni magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Mpumalanga police commissioner Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the incident and labelled it as heartless and uncalled for.
“It is the responsibility of parents to protect children rather than to use them as either weapons or shields during fights. We urge community members to seek professional help from social workers when they are confronted with social challenges. But never to resort into violence at the expense of children,” she said.
Emalahleni mom arrested after seven-month-old daughter burns to death in shack fire
Image: 123RF/Sfpater
An Emalahleni woman is behind bars on suspicion that she intentionally set her house on fire with her seven-month-old child inside.
Mpumalanga police said the incident happened at about 3am on Sunday.
Brig Selvy Mohlala said police and paramedics were summoned to the Vosman informal settlement with reports that a shack was ablaze.
“Upon arrival at the crime scene, a group of people were deeply perturbed by the horrifying incident at which the fire consumed an innocent toddler,” said Mohlala.
“Preliminary police investigations revealed that earlier on, the child’s mother and her husband had a heated argument which turned violent. The husband then left the premises and it was during this time she allegedly torched the shack.
“She was whisked away from the raging flames by some members of the public who became outraged. They even tried to take the law into their own hands, however, the police rescued her.”
Five children die in shack fire while mothers out 'drinking at tavern'
Police said it was alleged that the mother, aged 28, was intoxicated at the time of the incident. It was not clear whether the mother had tried to also take her own life in the fire.
Mohlala said: “Reports indicate that before the authorities were called, members of the community noticed the blazing fire at a shack and they began screaming. That was when the woman was somehow rescued but sadly, after the fire was extinguished, the charred tiny remains of the child were found in the rubble.”
The woman has been charged with murder. She is due to appear before the Emalahleni magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Mpumalanga police commissioner Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the incident and labelled it as heartless and uncalled for.
“It is the responsibility of parents to protect children rather than to use them as either weapons or shields during fights. We urge community members to seek professional help from social workers when they are confronted with social challenges. But never to resort into violence at the expense of children,” she said.
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