Woman and kids set alight over R30
A Winterveldt woman and her two kids set alight after being poured over with petrol.
David Matsena
A Winterveldt woman and her two kids were doused with petrol and set alight on Wednesday by a man who had come to collect a R30 debt from the husband.
Police spokesperson, Constable Petunia Chabangu said Elsie Lapkin (38) and her two children, Dina Lapkin (4) and Bathrai Lapkin (2) were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
They were sitting in their house on Wednesday morning when a man known to them came looking for the husband.
“When asked why he was looking for him, the man said her husband owed him R30,” said Chabangu.
He demanded the money and when she could not help him, he left and said he would be back.
“He returned to the house with a five-litre petrol holder. He knocked and when they opened for him, he poured petrol over all of them and set alight,” Chabangu said.
Neighbours heard the screams and rushed to their aid.
“Luckily they managed to put out the fire, and called the ambulance and the police. The suspect ran away.”
The husband Samuel Moyana told Rekord he was still at work when the man he only knew as “Jealous” visited his house.
“When I got home at around 19:30, people were gathered outside my house, and others were inside trying to help my wife and the kids,” he said.
“I did not know what was going on. I was totally devastated,” he said.
All the victims sustained multiple burn wounds.
The husband agreed that he owed the R30 but said he would never have expected the man to go that far.
“All of them were critically injured. They all underwent several operations,” said Samuel. “This has deeply affected me.”
The police confirmed that the attacker fled the scene.
“Police are investigating a case of arson and three cases of attempted murder,” said Chabangu.”
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