#AlexFire: Court grants one thousand rand bail to the two Alex mothers accused of negligence and culpable homicide
ALEX – Court grants bail to the two Alex mothers accused of negligence and culpable homicide.
Two mothers accused of culpable homicide and negligence after their four children lost their lives in a fire on 16 September this year were granted R1 000 bail each by the Alexandra Regional Magistrates’ Court on 28 September.
Bongiwe Ngubeni and Nelisiwe Fihlani who appeared in the dock holding each other’s hands are facing the charges after their children Nhlanhla Ngubeni (7), Sandile Ngubeni (4), Amukelani Ngubeni (2) and Mbalenhle Fihlani (5) perished in the fire that was allegedly caused by a heater in the early hours of 16 September. It was alleged that the incident occurred while the two mothers went out for an overnight party and left their children with 14-year-old Simphiwe Ngubeni who survived the inferno.
The four children were laid to rest without their mothers on 29 September at Waterfall Cemetery after a court declined their application to bury their children.
During the bail application hearing which was held in a filled to capacity courtroom, the magistrate warned Simphiwe’s mother not to talk to him about the matter or anything related to it. The pair will appear in the same court on 24 October as the state continues its investigation.
Friends and family members of the two accused mothers staged a peaceful protest outside the court calling for the justice system to give them a chance to mourn their children.
Also, read:
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