Montgomery mum (23) up for culpable homicide

A BULAWAYO woman whose two children were burnt to death last month appeared in court last week for negligently causing their death after she allegedly lit a candle and left them unattended while she escorted her boyfriend.

Sibongile Mlilo, 23, of Montgomery Farm just outside Bulawayo, appeared before magistrate Charity Maphosa on Friday facing culpable homicide charges.

Prosecuting,  Kudakwashe Jaravaza told the court that Mlilo left Mayibongwe Jele,11 months, and Isabel Nkomo, 3, unattended in a room with a burning candle.

"On July 11 at about 11PM Sibongile Mlilo left her two minor children, Mayibongwe Jele – a boy aged 11 months and Isabel Nkomo – a girl aged three years 11 months sleeping on a bed in a room she is renting.

"Mlilo left a burning candle placed on top of a table in the room and accompanied her boyfriend to his house nearby," said Jaravaza.

Neighbours who were sleeping in the next room made frantic attempts to save the tots but to no avail, the court heard.

"At about 12AM on July 12, Tholakele Mahlangu, who was sleeping in the next room, was awakened by the noise of two children screaming and went to investigate.

"Upon arrival she discovered that the room was already in flames and went back to awaken her husband Joshua Aaron," said the prosecutor.

Mahlangu and Aaron got inside the blazing room and retrieved the lifeless body of Mayibongwe while Isabel died hours later at United Bulawayo Hospitals due to the burns.

Mlilo was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody to today.