A fire engine of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services was torched by residents in Moleleki Section in Katlehong on Sunday morning.
William Ntladi, emergency services spokesman, said fire crews were responding to a shack fire at around 5am when they were confronted by residents with stones and rocks. They broke all the windows, forcing the crews to abandon the vehicle, literally running away for their lives.
“One resident jumped behind the steering wheel and drove the truck away before it being torched. The fire engine was worth more than R4.5 million, including all rescue and firefighting equipment which were all destroyed by the fire. Nothing could be salvaged,” Ntladi said.
Ntladi said according to information from the scene, the main reason for the action was that residents wanted to prevent the firefighters from extinguishing the fire as they said the owner was a criminal.
“Apparently the shack owner stabbed his neighbour to death during the night and everyone was avenging by burning his shack.”
The wife and two children of the suspect escaped with no injuries when residents broke the shack down trying to get hold of him (the suspect) who happened to be in the shack at the time.
“The suspect sustained critical injuries on scene due to assault by the members of the public and was transported to hospital.”
