State to bury burn victim
KwaThema - The state has taken a decision to bury an Ekuthuleni Section resident known as Aaron Mashaba as a pauper.
It is believed that the deceased (age unknown) sustained serious burn wounds during a shack fire which took place in Ekuthuleni Section on November 17, where he was living alone at the time.
Police spokesman Capt Thabo Sibuyi says Mashaba’s unidentified body is to be buried by the state, due to the fact that his body was unclaimed.
Read: Burnt body found in Duduza
“It was when the neighbours saw flames from his shack that they speedily tried to put out the fire
They managed to put out the fire and rescued the deceased, who was still alive at the time, from the shack.
“He had sustained burn wounds to his face, back and hands – hence an ambulance was called,” says Sibuyi.
Paramedics rushed him to the Pholosong Hospital for medical treatment.
However, he died at the hospital on November 23 at about noon.
Read: Body burned beyond recognition
His body remained unidentified by any family members.
Local police then opened an inquest and asked for the help of the community to trace the relatives of the deceased through the African Reporter, on December 2.
“But since then no one has come forward, resulting in the state’s decision,” says Sibuyi.
