He will be transferred to a more secure mental facility but his house mates now have to live in the damaged house he left behind after the arson attack.

The man set some material alight in the kitchen after caregivers demanded he go to sleep and forget about a girlfriend he wanted to host at the men’s dwelling.

The centre has another house exclusively for women, which was luckily not damaged in the fire which caused extensive damage to the entire kitchen and to the bedding, rugs, curtains and walls.

Neighbours like Ms Rose Maifadi, ex-principal of Bosmanspan Primary, rushed to the burning house in Maroela Street, Pullenshope, shortly after the kitchen went up in flames at 01:45.

The centre is home to seven mentally disabled men aged sixteen and above.

Ms Maifadi notified the emergency services and fire fighters of Eskom who helped douse the flames and rushed the men to hospital by ambulance.

All were discharged except one, who was still being treated for damage sustained to his lungs on Thursday.

Caregivers suspect that the white male, set the kitchen curtains alight out of anger for not being allowed to entertain the woman.

He allegedly waited for the caregivers to go to bed before he snuck into the kitchen with the matches he obtained on Tuesday.

Ms Maifadi and other neighbours on Wednesday served breakfast to the traumatized men whose mental illnesses range from mild to severe.

The man will be placed in a facility with strict 24-hour care and security, while the community at large can assist the others with food, blankets, clothes, rugs, curtains, toiletries and other necessities.

Those willing to assist can contact Rose on 078 143 8350.

• The centre says it is not a matter for the police as the alleged perpetrator is certified as being mentally unstable.