Pretoria man accused of setting girlfriend alight dies in holding cells
A woman is fighting for her life in hospital while the man who allegedly doused her with petrol before setting her a blaze, has died.
A man accused of the attempted murder of a woman in the north-east of Pretoria, who was set on fire, has died in police holding cells.
The 55-year-old was arrested for allegedly dousing Lindiwe Zitha in Mamelodi East, Section 16, with petrol and then setting her alight last Wednesday night.
He had handed himself over to the Mamelodi East police after he was spotted at the local clinic where he had sought medical help.
Zitha (50) is still in the ICU at Wilgers Hospital fighting for her life.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo says the suspect complained ‘about pain’ and police immediately called an ambulance.
He adds that paramedics, who arrived shortly thereafter, declared him dead in the holding cells.
“Police have opened an inquest docket and a postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” explains Masondo.
Zitha family spokesperson Khabo Zitha says the family was disappointed at the development because all they wanted were answers.
“We wanted to know why he did what he did to my sister,” stresses Khabo.
“My sister is left with permanent scars and the accused has died before he could stand trial.”
The man made his first appearance in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the case was remanded to June 12 for further investigations.
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