Cape Town - Police have arrested a 29-year-old woman for child neglect after her 18-month-old disabled son burnt to death in Lotus River on Sunday night.
A fire engulfed five dwellings in the Phumlani Village informal settlement at about 9.30pm. Seven people were displaced and a baby boy, who was blind and disabled, died.
The mother of the boy is in custody at Grassy Park police station, police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said.
“It is believed the mother of the child was not at home, at the time of the fatal incident,” he said.
City of Cape Town Disaster Management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said teams had been deployed to assist those who lost their homes by providing food parcels, clothing, blankets, baby packs, toiletries and building materials.
City fire chief Theo Layne said, on initial investigation, the fire appeared to have been caused by a candle which had fallen over in a shack.
Cape Argus