Ngqamakwe police have opened an inquest docket following the death of a 40-year-old mother and her three- year-old daughter in a fire yesterday.
The mother allegedly left children to buy goods at a nearby shop at 6.30pm at Merelisa Locality, Thoboyi Village, Ngqamakhwe.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said she was then informed by one of her children that the house was on fire with the three-year-old toddler inside.
Manatha said the mother entered the burning house trying to rescue the child. Both of them died in the fire.
The cause of the fire is still unknown at this point in time. The identities of both deceased are still withheld pending official notification of next of kin.
Butterworth Cluster Commander, Brigadier Ngangema Xakavu, expressed his sympathy with the family.
