Mzomunye Magubane had a narrow escape when his thatched home was set on fire in the Busi area, Wasbank, in the early hours of last Tuesday.
His mother, Jabhile, said her son had gone to sleep and at around 3am she heard him shouting for help.
By the time she got out of bed and left her room, Mzonmunye was already outside.
“The house was ablaze – it is amazing that he was not seriously hurt,” Jabhile told the Courier.
The family suspects foul play as Mzonmunye, a taxi driver, was ‘having a problem’ with a taxi operator at the time.
However, they have not opened a charge of arson. Jabhile said she had only made an affidavit at the local police station.

Ward Two Councillor Sibonokuhle Zwane, who was accompanied by municipal Disaster Manager, Bonginkosi Zulu, promised to assist the family with a tent and blankets and the Social Development Office in Glencoe was also contacted. Jabhile survives only thanks to a State grant and is still caring for three younger children.
This is not the first time the Magubane family has been targeted by arsonists – there was a similar incident in 2016.
The Disaster Management department also attended to another scene in Wasbank where strong Berg winds blew off the roofs of two other homes in the area.
Councillor Zwane promised the affected families assistance.