Tragic Fire Claims Lives Of Two Young Sisters In Kalksteenfontein

A devastating fire in Kalksteenfontein, Cape Town, claimed the lives of two young sisters on Monday evening after their mother allegedly locked them inside a wendy house and left with their infant sibling.

Four-year-old Janecke Gross and seven-year-old Nicolia Gross tragically perished in the blaze, while their grandmother is fighting for her life in hospital after bravely attempting to save them.

Grandmother’s Desperate Rescue Attempt

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. at a property in Soetkop Street. According to neighbour Mauricia Sondagh, her son ran to alert her after spotting flames coming from the wendy house.

“The ouma was at the opposite neighbour’s house. When she saw what was happening, she ran inside to try and save them, but the flames were uncontrollable,” Sondagh said.

“They had to get the ouma out through the roof because there was no other way out for her.”

Community members could do nothing to stop the flames, and by the time emergency services arrived, the sisters were trapped inside.

Allegations Against the Mother

Shocking allegations have emerged against the girls’ mother, who is reportedly struggling with drug addiction.

“When the community called the mother to say her place was burning, she just threw the key and kept walking,” said Mauricia.

Neighbours claim this wasn’t the first time the mother had left her children locked inside the wendy house alone.

The girls’ father is currently in jail and was not home at the time of the incident.

Firefighters Discover Bodies Beneath the Debris

City of Cape Town Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed that firefighters responded at 7:10 pm and discovered two informal structures engulfed in flames.

“By 8:30 pm, the fire was extinguished, but sadly, the bodies of the minors were found beneath the debris,” Carelse stated.

Two formal dwellings also suffered partial damage from the flames. South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the fire and whether negligence played a role in the tragedy.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

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