A fight ends in flames

POLOKWANE – Two houses were set alight after a fight broke out between some young people at a liquor outlet in Seshego zone 1 in the early hours of Sunday morning.

According to Francis Mmethi, his nephew, who was at the outlet, was involved in a fight with some men.

Later on the same evening, the house belonging to Mmethi’s brother was set alight, Mmethi said.

“My brother was sleeping when he heard noises outside. When he looked through the window, he saw some men pouring something around the house. Then they set the house on fire,” Mmethi explained.

He further said his brother was able to escape from the burning house, and call for help.

In the meantime the guilty parties fled.

Mmethi said it would appear that the men were searching for his nephew with whom they had fought, and made their way to his sister, Welhemina Nkoana’s home, where his nephew was asleep in the back room.

“The men then set the back room alight,” Mmethi alleged.

Nkoana said she had heard footsteps outside at around 03:00. “I was awake to feed my baby, and when I was done, I looked out the window and saw that the back room was in flames, she said, adding that she had called for help immediately.

She said the arsonists were seemingly ready to set the rest of the house alight, but were interrupted when a family member arrived to warn Nkoana about the other house that had been set alight. The arsonists then ran away.

Nkoana, two children young children and her mother live with her, were all in the house at the time of the fire. She said fortunately, her brother had not been in his room when it was set alight.

“I sleep during the day because at night I am too afraid. I am scared the men will come back and burn our house again,” she explained.

WO Mothemane Malefo, Seshego police spokesperson, confirmed the incidents.

“We are looking for two suspects who are known to us. We expect to make an arrest soon. No injuries were reported,” he said.

Two cases of arson were opened at the Seshego police station.