An 85-year-old woman and her two grandchildren died in house fire in the Eastern Cape, provincial police said.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said that at around 10 pm on Monday, police were called to the site of a burning house in Mcelwane's Gqunqe A/A (Centane).

"Police recovered three charred bodies from the debris," said Kareli.

The remains are thought to be of the grandmother and her two grandkids, ages five and 12.

The circumstances surrounding the occurrence are part of the investigation.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) opened an inquest docket into what or who started the fire.

In a similar case, police at Villa Nora in Limpopo's Waterberg District have begun an inquest after two children, ages two and four, were charred beyond recognition.

Provincial police spokesman, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said that the fire occurred on Sunday night, December 1 at the young children's home in Vianeen village.

"Police responded to the scene at approximately 8.30pm. Upon arrival, they found community members gathered at the house, extinguishing the fire," Ledwaba said.

Preliminary enquiries indicated that the mother had left her six children in the residence. The eldest of the six children is 12-years old.

According to police, the woman went to a spaza shop to receive her social grant money.

"When she left, a candle was lit. Upon returning from the shop, she found her six-roomed house engulfed in flames, with community members who extinguished the fire," said Ledwaba.

Four of her children were able to escape the blazing flames, but the remaining four sadly died, burned beyond recognition.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, has conveyed his heartfelt sorrow over the occurrence.

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Grandmother and two grandchildren, aged five and 12, die in house fire