‘He’s Not Coming Back’: A Pretoria Mother Mourns Her Two-Year-Old Lost in Tragic Tent Fire

As the family prepares for little Ali’s memorial, his mother pleads for truth and strength amid rumours and heartbreak

On the chilly night of July 9, a quiet corner of Pretoria turned into a scene of heartbreak. A candle’s flame, a common winter companion in off-grid homes, became the tragic force that took two-year-old Alejandro McGarry’s life.

Affectionately known as Ali, he died when a fire swept through the tent his family was living in on a smallholding in Grootvlei Oos, Pretoria. Now, his grieving mother, Susan Radue, is speaking out, not just to honour her son, but to correct the many painful rumours that have surfaced in the days since.

“He didn’t die in his cot”

In the emotional aftermath, false stories have spread online and in local communities, some claiming it was a gas explosion, others suggesting the toddler died in his cot.

“That’s not true,” Radue told reporters. “It was a candle, and no, it wasn’t in his cot or anything like that. I want people to stop speculating, we’re still processing what happened.”

The family is now preparing for a memorial service on Friday, but they won’t be able to lay Ali to rest yet. The fire was so intense that his body was unrecognisable, and DNA testing is required before any burial can take place.

A Family in Grief, A Mother Holding On

Radue says she’s trying to be strong for her other children, particularly her 16-year-old son, who was extremely close to Ali.

“It only really hit him today,” she said. “He went back to the scene of the fire and just sat there. He sat in silence. That’s when I knew it was real for him now. His little brother is not coming back.”

On top of the emotional strain, the family is also dealing with logistical challenges: their car keys were destroyed in the fire, making it difficult to get around as they navigate funeral arrangements and DNA testing procedures.

Winter Fire Risk: A National Concern

This tragedy isn’t isolated. It came in the same week that another fire in Tshwane claimed five lives, including a two-year-old child and a senior citizen.

According to AfriForum’s disaster management expert, Tarien Cooks, fires like this are becoming increasingly common during South Africa’s harsh winter months.

“A house fire is fast, hot, dark, and deadly,” she warned. “Most deaths in fires happen because of smoke inhalation, not the flames themselves. And in informal dwellings like tents or shacks, people have almost no time to escape.”

What Happens Now?

The City of Tshwane’s emergency services confirmed that the fire destroyed the family’s four-roomed dwelling, but investigations are ongoing. The loss of Ali has shaken not just his family, but also the wider Pretoria community that is growing weary of winter’s deadly toll.

Calls are once again mounting for better emergency infrastructure, more affordable and safer heating solutions, and greater fire safety education, especially in informal settlements and vulnerable communities.

Let the Truth and the Healing Begin

As Susan Radue prepares to say goodbye to her baby boy, she is also asking for something simple but vital: compassion, accuracy, and support. In a world quick to spread falsehoods, her plea is to remember that behind every headline is a family trying to pick up the pieces.

“We’re just trying to cope,” she said. “We’re trying to hold each other through this.”

Alejandro McGarry’s life ended far too soon, but his story must serve as a wake-up call about the dangers faced by families across South Africa every winter. And maybe, just maybe, it will be the story that sparks action before more lives are lost.

{Source: The Citizen}

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