By Tladi Moloi
Four children from the Petsana location in Reitz, Free State died after they suffocated inside a car on Wednesday.
It is reported that Lesedi Mnguni (3), Jwalane Goodness Mnguni (3), Lerato Donald Tshabalala (2) and Mojalefa Mokoena (4) were found trapped in the car.
The children had been with the Mnguni children’s 72-year-old grandmother while their parents were at work.
Reports suggest that the kids were playing in a silver Volvo when they got trapped and had no way out.
Jappie Mguni, who lost his two kids, Lesedi and Jwalane, said he was still in shock. He said that he suspects someone locked the children in the car intentionally.
“The car was in the garage and those kids always play in it. They knew how to open and close it but why this time they failed to open it until they died I don’t understand,” he said.
The heartbroken Mguni said he was still at work when the incident happened, adding that his wife was also in town.
“It is hard, I don’t know what to say but God will give us strength and I am praying the police investigations come early so that we get closure,” he said.
Jacob Mokoena, 36, the father of the late Mojalefa, said he did not know what could have happened. He said the incident happened less than 10 months after he buried his one-year-old child.
“I am asking myself what have I done to deserve this. However, if it’s God’s will I will accept it,” he said.
“Those kids always play there. I believe that their grandmother thought they were in my house when she couldn’t hear them playing outside.”
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring confirmed the incident and said that an inquest case has been opened for investigations.
“We got the call to one of the houses in Petsana and when we got there four children, three boys and one girl, were lying next to a silver Volvo S40 sedan and all four children were already certified dead,” he said.
Pictured above: The locked car
Image source; @TimesLive
