Melezwa Mntwini(31) who left her two children inside her shack and went to a shebeen has been arrested. She was arrested on Monday and appeared in court the following day.
She is facing the charges of Child Neglect. According to a family member, Melezwa woke up on Monday and went to fetch birth certificates from the where her children were studying. When she returned, officers were already waiting for her.
“They took her away as soon as she arrived. Now we are waiting for her return so that we can do DNA, we cannot do anything in her absence,” said a family member.
Cape Town police spokesman Colonel Malcolm Pojie said they opened a Child Neglect against the mother.
“We can confirm that we have indeed opened a case of Child Neglect in connection with the death of the two children, over and above the Inquest. This case is investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit based in Khayelitsha.
“The investigating officer earlier today, Monday, 15 April 2024 arrested the 31-year-old mother of the children who faces two counts of Child Neglect. This needs to serve as a reminder that parents are the primary caregiver and custodians who are responsible and accountable for their children’s safety and wellbeing,” said Pojie.
The mother left her two children Athanande Mntwini(10) and Ingakuthi(5) sleeping inside her shack and she went to nearby shebeen. She was later called around 3am that her shack was on fire. Her two children died leaving her distraught and heartbroken.
Melezwa appeared in Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court on 16 April and was remanded in custody. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Eric Ntabazalila says the woman will return to court on Tuesday 23 April for bail hearing.
