Johannesburg -
Two toddlers died in a shack fire in Butterworth after a male relative left them locked inside, Eastern Cape police said on Sunday.
Captain Jackson Manatha said he wanted to highlight the tragedy because it was child protection week.
The children - three and five years old - were locked in by a relative at Eziteneni informal settlement on Wednesday night who then went off somewhere else.
Neighbours saw the fire at about 10.30pm and tried to put it out but couldn't.
Little Asekhona Tengani, 3, and Lukhona Tengani, 5, died in the smoke and flames.
Child Protection Week is held annually to raise awareness of the rights of children and to mobilise society to protect and care for children. - Sapa