Tragic Shack Fire Takes 6-Year-Old Amogelang Mokwena From Mamelodi East Community

Tragic Shack Fire Takes 6-Year-Old Amogelang Mokwena From Mamelodi East Community

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Mamelodi East when six-year-old Amogelang Mokwena lost her life in a devastating shack fire. Her mother, Seipati Thlape, is now left grappling with unbearable grief, the loss of her daughter, and the destruction of their home.

Seipati shared with Daily Sun that she was outside with friends when the fire suddenly broke out. Inside the shack, her two children were asleep. Her 12-year-old son managed to escape by jumping through a window, but tragically, he was unable to save his little sister.

“My son tried to pull her out but failed… he screamed for help,” Seipati recalled, her voice filled with sorrow. The fire quickly engulfed three shacks, destroying everything in its path — clothes, food, precious memories — and, most heartbreakingly, a young life.

Amogelang was a Grade R pupil known for her love of people and warm spirit. Her grandmother, Betty Thlape, expressed the family’s overwhelming pain, saying they have lost not only a beloved child but also their home and now face financial hardship, unable to even afford a proper burial.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The family and community are urgently appealing for assistance—any donations or support would mean the world to them during this difficult time.