“Irresponsible” couple in jail for having fun while children burnt to death on Christmas day

A South African couple are answering to allegations of abuse, deliberate neglect, and abandonment of children after their children got burnt to death on Christmas day.

Their 2-year-old daughter and 3-month-old son were killed in a shack fire in the KwaZamokuhle settlement in Hendrina, News 24 South AFrica reports.

David Mashiloane, 45, and Rebecca Mtshweni, 23, were allegedly having fun somewhere else when the fire started at their home.

Police found the kids lying on a mattress burnt to death after the fire was extinguished.

The parents arrived home about four hours later and were promptly arrested.

“While they were having fun, the shack caught fire at approximately 20:45. Police and the fire department were summoned to the scene. The kids were found lying on the mattress burnt to death after the fire was extinguished,” police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.

The appeared in court, Monday, and have been remanded in custody until January 11, 2016 pending a formal bail application..