A three-year-old baby succumbed to injuries after the house she was sleeping in was set on fire. Image by Flickr
House set alight with four children inside, domestic violence not ruled out
The children aged between six-days-old and three years were sleeping with their mothers when the house was set alight, one of them died.
A three-year-old baby succumbed to injuries after the house she was sleeping in was set on fire. Image by Flickr
Police in Malamulele, Limpopo have launched a manhunt for a suspect who allegedly set a house alight while six people including four children were inside.
The suspect allegedly doused the house with a highly flammable substance believed to be petrol and set it on fire while people were sleeping inside at Plange village, Mtiti. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning 11 December 2022.
SIX-DAY OLD BABY AMONGST VICTIMS IN HOUSE SET ALIGHT
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a 29-year-old man had on Saturday 10 December during the day, reportedly visited his ex-girlfriend aged 23 who was at home with her two children aged two months and two years. Her cousin was also there with her two children aged six days and three years. The 29-year-old and 23-year-old started arguing and the man reportedly left after the heated altercation.
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Police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said in the early hours of the following morning (Sunday) at about 01:00, an unknown suspect broke the window and sprinkled a flammable liquid substance believed to be petrol inside the house through the window and then set the house alight.
Ledwaba said the suspect then fled the scene. The victims screamed for help and were eventually rescued by community members.
“Police and emergency rescue services were summoned and the victims were transported to hospital in a critical condition. Police then opened a case of arson and six counts of attempted murder. Sadly, the three-year-old child, identified as Vunene Ngobeni later succumbed to her injuries. The sixth count of attempted murder was then changed to murder. The motive for the incident is not yet known but domestic violence cannot be ruled out.”
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba
Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has ordered that the suspect responsible for the horrendous incident be hunted down and brought to book.
“We appeal to community members with information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspect to come forward,” she said.
Police have called upon Edward Chauke (29) who resides at Gumbani village to avail himself at Malamulele police station or contact the nearest police station as it is believed he will be able to assist in the unfolding investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident has been urged to contact the Detective Commander Colonel Edson Rikhotso on 082 565 7919 or the crime stop number 0860010111or the nearest police station or use MySAPSApp.
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