A plea for assistance from Anele Mokoena’s mother to uncover the true cause of her daughter’s death.
- Cynthia Mokoena with late daughter’s favorite toys.
Cynthia Mokoena (40) shared with Daily Sun that she has been struggling to cope since the incident, resorting to consuming strong substances and pills to numb the pain and help her sleep.
According to Cynthia, her daughter Anele (3) suffered severe burns allegedly caused by a 20-litre sanitizer on December 1, 2023, in Malven, Johannesburg.
Recalling the tragic incident, Cynthia vividly described picking up her daughter’s peeling skin as a result of the severe burns.
Cynthia, who was waiting for her eldest daughter’s visit after completing exams that day, went to the shops in the afternoon. On her way back with Anele, the little girl requested to play with a neighbor’s child.
Upon returning home, Cynthia heard an explosion and rushed to her neighbor’s house, where she discovered her daughter crying and severely burnt. With the help of neighbors, she called an ambulance, and a resident volunteered to take Anele to the hospital.
Cynthia asserted that when she inquired about the incident, she was told that the children were playing with a large bottle of sanitizer.
Upon reaching the hospital, Cynthia received devastating news that her daughter had suffered third-degree burns, with 95% of her body affected. Doctors informed her that Anele’s organs had collapsed, making skin replacement impossible.
- Little Anele Mokoena, who allegedly burnt to death
Cynthia expressed suspicion, questioning how a sanitizer could cause an explosion without a fire. She believed an adult might have been involved, emphasizing the difficulty a six-year-old would face in opening such a large sanitizer bottle.
Disputing the notion that her daughter’s death resulted from the sanitizer explosion, Cynthia contended that chemicals were likely the cause, pointing to burns on Anele’s nails, eyes, and overall body.
Despite doctors informing her that Anele wouldn’t survive, Cynthia stayed by her daughter’s side until she passed away on December 4, 2023.
Seeking justice, Cynthia disclosed that she opened a case at Cleveland Police Station, but when checked with the police spokeswoman, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, it was revealed that the provided case number didn’t match the incident. The family was advised to return to the police station to obtain the correct case number. Cynthia emphasized her need for closure, lamenting the fact that the person responsible for her daughter’s death remains at large while she grapples with grief and resorts to substances for solace.