Rustenburg - An elderly woman died after her house caught fire in Ledig outside Rustenburg, North West police said on Thursday.
Captain Paul Ramaloko said Betty Mantholwane Modisakeng, 103, from Section 2 in the township died from smoke inhalation on Wednesday.
“Fire broke in the bedroom of Mrs Modisakeng, in the early hours of yesterday [Wednesday]. She got trapped in the house because her 51-year-old grandson had locked the exit door and slept over at a nearby section.”
Ramaloko said neighbours were woken by a heavy smoke coming from her house. They opened her door with a crowbar and extinguished the fire.
“She was found next to the main door next to her walking stick. Emergency Medical Service from Sun City were alerted and certified her dead on scene,” he said.
“Preliminary investigations suggested a candle may be the cause of fire. Sun City police are investigating inquest and arson cases.”
North West provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Zukiswa Mbombo expressed shock by the death of one of the few eldest woman in Ledig.
“I’m calling on our community to embrace the role grannies play in our society. They cared for us and our children. We can’t pay them enough in a hundred years for what they have done for us. Let’s care for our elderly. My team will investigate this incident and bring the sequence of events to light. It is sad.” she said.
ANA