A 17-year-old girl died after becoming trapped in a house fire in Bulilimamangwe District, Matabeleland South, while her grandmother suffered burns trying to rescue her, police have said.
The blaze broke out at about 01:00 on 1 July in Jutshume Village, near Maitengwe Border Post, destroying the family home and all their belongings. Police say the cause of the fire has not yet been established.
The teenager, identified as Bongiwe Thandeka Dube, was asleep in her bedroom when the fire started.
Her grandparents, aged 71 and 60, were awakened by her screams and rushed outside, where they found the bedroom engulfed in flames.
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The grandmother attempted to enter the burning room to save the teenager but suffered burn injuries as the fire spread rapidly.
Bongiwe died at the scene.
The fire reduced the house to ashes, destroying household property, food supplies and clothing.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Stanford Mguni confirmed the incident, saying it happened at the home of Giant Dube under Headman Mbimba in Madlambudzi.
“It happened in Bulilimamangwe District, by Maitengwe Border Post on 1 July 2026 around 1am in the morning at Giant Dube’s homestead under the headman called Mbimba in Madlambudzi. The village is called Jutshume Village,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Mguni said Bongiwe had a mental disability and was sleeping when the fire broke out.
“Bongiwe Thandika Dube, who was 17 years of age, had a mental challenge and was sleeping in her bedroom. The grandparents, who were aged 60 and 71, the grandfather being 71 and the grandmother being 60, heard her screaming for help and they woke up and found out that her bedroom was on fire,” he said.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
“The house burnt down to ashes and it was burnt beyond recognition. The police attended the incident and it is an ongoing investigation,” Assistant Inspector Mguni said.
He said forensic specialists had been deployed to establish the cause of the fire.
“We called forensic experts to analyse what happened. The body was taken for further investigation on the post-mortem and forensic is still working on that and extensive investigations are being done,” he said.
Authorities have appealed for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward as forensic examinations continue.
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