Family blames cops for toddler death
The family of a girl who died after being locked in a fridge says she could have been saved if cops responded sooner.
|||Cape Town - The family of a toddler who died after being locked in a fridge believe the little girl could have been saved if cops had responded to their calls earlier.
Grandmother Babalwa Sityoshwana, 43, says they called police three times and waited for more than two hours to report little Siyanqoba Sityoshwana’s disappearance.
By then the family was so frantic that they rented a vehicle to drive to Grabouw Police Station to report the case.
A neighbour found the girl inside an old fridge in his yard at about 9pm on Monday.
According to Babalwa, her granddaughter was only wearing pants when she was discovered.
“Her other clothes were also in the fridge but it was wet and the inside of the fridge was dry,” says the devastated granny.
Siyanqoba was transported to Helderberg Hospital from where she was transferred to Tygerberg where she died the next day.
The family say they don’t believe Siyanqoba’s death was an accident as they were told she had sustained head injuries.
Now Babalwa says she believes her granddaughter might have been found earlier if the police came immediately.
“They didn’t do their jobs. Our child might have been alive if they helped us earlier,” she states.
Constable Noloyiso Rwexana says the family should lodge their complaint.
“If the complainants are unhappy with the service they received, they are advised to do a formal complaint with the station management,” states Rwexana.
She adds cops are investigating an inquest docket.
Daily Voice