Police have opened an inquest docket following the deaths of a mother and daughter who perished in a shack fire early this morning, August 13, in NU12, Motherwell. The mother died after trying to rescue her two daughters who were sleeping in the shack. She managed to rescue one of her daughters.
According to police spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, it is alleged that at about 00:01, in Nkonjane Street, NU12, Motherwell, witnesses claimed that two children aged 15 and 18 years old were sleeping in the flat at the back of the main house.
She said a candle was used inside the flat, and just after midnight, the mother, who was not in the flat at the time, noticed the flat was on fire.
“She ran inside and managed to rescue her 18-year-old daughter. However, as she went back to rescue her 15-year-old daughter Lelihle Ndabayini, the mother, Nosicelo Ndabayini (37), was engulfed by the fire and died in the blaze with her daughter,” said Janse Van Rensburg.
“At this stage it is suspected that the candle was the cause of the fire.
“No foul play is suspected and investigations are continuing,” she added.
