Wednesday was to be a big day for little Nosipho Blessing Lenyanyabedi.
The six-year-old was set to start grade 1 and her uniform and stationery were ready.
But instead, her distraught family is preparing to bury her and her younger brother, three-year-old Lethabo Semosa, after their horrific deaths this week.
The duo and their neighbour's two-year-old daughter suffocated while playing inside a relative's parked car in Jamela village in Bolobedu, Limpopo, on Wednesday.
The siblings' family told TimesLIVE Premium they believed the child locks on the car's doors were engaged or the door handles were possibly faulty, making it difficult for the children to get out.
Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said: “Police received a complaint from the clinic at about 2pm, where three children were brought in by their parents in a critical condition after they were discovered lying unconscious inside a parked sedan. On arrival, they found that the two children aged two and six, both girls, were already certified dead. The third child, a boy, died on Thursday.
“According to the information available at this stage, the two [siblings] went to play next door with the two-year-old girl and while playing, they got inside a parked vehicle with all the windows closed. They were later discovered unconscious by a younger relative who alerted the elders.”
Ledwaba confirmed an inquest docket had been opened.
Nosipho and Lethabo's older cousin Lebogang Lenyanyabedi opened up about the family's grief.
“They were playing in the car and ended up in the boot. They accessed the car from the driver's side and jumped seats to reach the back,” she said.
“It seems the car locked itself, though I can't be too sure of that. But they were unable to get out,” she said. “The car's windows were closed so they ended up suffocating.”
According to Lenyanyabedi, the trio had been warned to steer clear of the car.
She said the older sister of the two-year-old girl, whose family declined to be named, made the grim discovery after a frantic search for them.
“They looked dizzy and like they had fainted when they were found. They [adults] then poured water on them and administered first aid before rushing them to the local clinic,” she said.
Lethabo was first transferred to Kgapane hospital and later to Mankweng, where he died in the early hours of Thursday.
Lenyanyabedi described Nosipho as a bright and active child who was a fast learner. She also spoke fondly of Lethabo.
The two-year-old toddler's aunt corroborated Lenyanyabedi's version of events.
She said the mother of the two deceased children and the mother of her two-year niece were “like sisters and always together”.
The car's doors could only be opened from the outside, she said.
“The girl's sister told them to get out [when they tried to play inside it] as they would be locked inside.
“She then went to the house to cook and while she was busy, the children went back to the car. The sister assumed they went elsewhere to play when she didn't spot them later on,” she said.
The sister who discovered the children initially assumed they fell asleep while playing in the car.
The family described the temperature that day as “not too hot” and cooler than the usual scorching heat experienced in the area.
The toddler's death brought an extra layer of pain for the family, the aunt said, as her conception had been a struggle. It also came just days before the little girl's birthday next week.
She was described as playful, easy-going and an untroubled child.
The children will be buried on Sunday in a combined service.
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