Dogs find safety after fire

Update

GEORGE NEWS - After seeing last week' George Herald front page, Gran and toddler set alight, Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) senior inspector Salomé Bruyns and her team jumped into action.

Trainee inspector Siseko Mqolo and trainee field officer Elrico Elbrecht went to the scene where a house had burnt down in Thembalethu to see if any pets were affected by the fire.

Indeed, three dogs, Roxy, Blacky and Brownie, were found where their home burnt down in Yawani Street at approximately 03:00 on Monday 20 November.

Their owner, Angela Steenkamp (51), had perished in the flames along with her six-year-old granddaughter Avethandwa.

It is believed that Steenkamp's daughter, Frances Helen Steenkamp (29), who is also Aventhandwa's mother, intentionally set the informal home on fire with the two locked inside.

The dogs managed to escape the inferno, but had nowhere to go after their home was razed to the ground.

Avethandwa and her grandmother's bodies were found in the debris of the fire.

It is believed that Steenkamp lit candles and put them underneath the beds in both bedrooms, as well as in the living room. She allegedly stayed until she was sure the furniture caught fire before she locked the doors and nonchalantly walked off, leaving the shack burning with her daughter and mother locked inside.

After the incident Steenkamp was arrested on charges of arson and murder and made her first court appearance in the George Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 22 November. The case was postponed until 21 December and Steenkamp remains in custody.

Saving the dogs

GRSPCA took swift action to ensure the well-being of the dogs and all three were taken into their care. The dogs will be available for adoption as soon as they get the OK from the GRSPCA's veterinarian.

"Siseko and Elrico were traumitised, but we are committed to proactive measures during such challenging times, prioritising the welfare of all animals involved," said Bruyns. "Our mission extends beyond boundaries to stand in solidarity with the victims of this devastating incident."

Brownie and her two friends, Roxy and Blacky, were taken into the care of the GRSPCA. Photo: GRSPCA