Police have launched an inquest after two young sisters, aged three and five, perished in a house fire at Tjatjaneng Village in Ga-Mothapo, outside Polokwane, on Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 15:30 on 14 March 2026. According to preliminary police reports, the grandmother of the children had left the residence around 14:00 to visit a nearby tuckshop. At the time, the two toddlers were inside a backroom while their great-grandmother was present in the main house.
While the grandmother was still at the shop, she was informed that the backroom had caught fire. She immediately rushed back to the property and found members of the community already attempting to extinguish the flames.
Upon gaining entry, the residents discovered the bodies of the two children on top of a bed. The victims were burnt beyond recognition.
The exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined, and South African Police Service (SAPS) investigations are ongoing.