Daily Sun (September 16 2013) - FOR A FEW seconds the three little children may have enjoyed the excitement of their dark, crowded hiding place. But fear will have gripped them as they realised they were trapped . . .
AND DEATH WILL HAVE COME SLOWLY TO THE CHILDREN AS THEY RAN OUT OF AIR TO BREATHE.
Madala Afrika Stuurman found the bodies on Friday at a house in Atamelang, North West. Stuurman, who is the great grandfather of one of the children, said he noticed flies and ants around the old fridge outside the house. He said he opened it and saw the children piled up inside.
"I was horrified when I saw their lifeless bodies," said Stuurman. "The three-year-old was at the bottom. The four-year-old and the five-year-old were sitting on top of the youngest one, facing in opposite directions."
The fridge has a catch that locks the door when it is closed and makes it impossible to open from the inside, so the children couldn't push the door open.
Rorisang Medupe (3), his cousin Onalenna Medupe (4) and their friend Sekhukhuza Stuurman (5) of Vrischgewaagte, south of Mafikeng, North West, went missing on Thursday morning just before 11am.
Sarah Medupe (23) said she was doing laundry when she realised her child Rorisang was gone.
She checked with Sekhukhuza's mum, Rhina Stuurman (34), who also had no idea where the kids were.
Lesego Medupe (23), Onalenna's mum, was in Klerksdorp when she heard that her child, who was on holiday with his grandmother, had gone missing.
Neighbours joined the Stuurman and Medupe familiesto search for the three children.
Sarah said they rushed to Atamelang Police Station to report the matter but they were shocked when the cops who were on duty on Thursday afternoon told them that they would only help look for the missing children after 48 hours.
"If the police had helped us earlier we may have found the children alive," she said.
"I don't understand why they told us they'd only help after 48 hours. These are little children."
The three grieving mothers, Lesego, Rhina and Sarah, described their children as happy, playful and talkative.
Sergeant Kealeboga Molale of the SAPS said an inquest case has been opened.
"The cops who were on duty on the day the kids went missing denied the allegations made by the families. They said they helped the people immediately," he said.
He said the family can report the matter to the station commander at Atamelang
Police Station.
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