Man who set mother, children on fire still on the run
Loate police have launched a manhunt for a 33-year-old who poured petrol on a Winterveldt woman and her two kids and then set them alight.
David Matsena
Loate police have launched a manhunt for a 33-year-old who poured petrol over a Winterveldt woman and her two kids before setting them alight.
He had come to collect a R30 debt from the woman’s husband.
Police spokesperson, Constable Petunia Chabangu said police believed the suspect, who went by the name of “Jealous”, had gone into hiding around Winterveldt, Soshanguve, Mabopane or Hammanskraal.
Chabangu said Elsie Lapkin (38), and her children, Dina (4) and Bathrai (2), were at home on Wednesday 2 September, when a man known to them came looking for her husband.
“The man said the husband owed him R30,” said Chabangu.
He demanded the money from the wife but left after she declared she had none.
“He returned with a 5 litre [can] of petrol. When they opened the door for him, he poured petrol over all of them and set them alight,” she said.
Neighbours who heard the screams rushed to the house to help.
“Luckily they managed to put out the fire then called the ambulance and the police. The suspect ran away on foot,” she said.
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 around 19:30, people were gathered outside, and others were inside trying to help my wife and kids,” he said.
“I was totally devastated by the incident.”
All the victims sustained multiple burn wounds.
Moyana admitted he owed the suspect R30.
“All of them have undergone several operations,” said Moyana. “This incident has deeply affected me.”
The police said they were still looking for the man.
“Police are investigating a case of arson and three of attempted murder,” said Chabangu.
The victims remained in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Anyone with information is requested to contact the nearest police.
Also read:
Woman and kids set alight over R30
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