Mental health patient razes mother’s shacks to the ground

According to 53-year-old Minah Ramatlotlo, her 26-year-old son had asked his uncle for a box of matches and went to the shacks on that day. She was in the main house when a neighbour and her younger brother shouted from outside to say the structures were on fire. ‘The fire was too strong, we tried to douse the flames with sand but that did not help. I lost a lot of appliances, furniture and other valuables,’ she said.

Minah is still shocked about what happened. ‘My son must have lit the papers lying around the shack and that caused the fire,’ she said.

According to her, the young man has been for countless hospital visits and counselling and she still does not know what is wrong with him. He was even admitted to Witrand Hospital for four weeks and nothing improved. ‘He told me there are voices in his head that instruct him to do things,’ she said. ‘We had to take him to the hospital after the incident and he is still recuperating there.’

According to her, he is a talented and passionate music lover who has been featured on a national radio station for his music. He also used to hold soccer coaching clinics for young boys. But, one day, something changed in him and he suddenly started selling his music equipment and ‘everthing went downhill from there,’ she said. ‘I don’t think even traditional healers will be able to help my son,’ she added.

Devastated, Minah says her son had a job interview scheduled for Wednesday, after looking for work for a very long time.