A 30-year-old man set himself, his partner (28), and their two-year-old toddler alight in Leslie, Mpumalanga, on Thursday.

Mpumalanga News reports that, according to provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the incident occurred during an altercation at their home when the man accused his partner of infidelity.

“It is alleged that the man poured petrol over himself and the woman who was holding the child, then ignited the flames. The woman and the toddler managed to escape and get help from nearby relatives,” Ndubane says.

The three were transported to a nearby hospital. The man died on arrival. The woman and child survived, but the toddler was transferred to a specialised medical facility due to the severity of her injuries.

Ndubane says the police have opened a case of attempted murder and registered an inquest docket.

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