After setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s home and trying to kill her last May, the Benoni Magistrate’s Court recently sentenced Velaphi Gordon Makhathini (43) of Daveyton to 51 years imprisonment on four counts of arson and three counts of attempted murder.
He received a six-year sentence for arson and 15 years on each count of attempted murder.
The magistrate ordered that two of the 15-year sentences run concurrently, equating to 21 years of direct imprisonment.
According to Daveyton SAPS spokesperson Constable Ntando Ngomane, the complainant (36) was seated in the dining room with her daughter (22) at around 23:20 on the day of the attack, while her 30-year-old friend was in the bedroom.
Makhathini broke the dining room window and threw a petrol bomb into the house.
“The occupants screamed for help while running to the kitchen to try to escape out the door. When they opened the door, Makhathini stood there holding a container with petrol,” Ngomane explained.
“He poured more petrol into the house and onto the friend’s face before lighting a match. The victims ran back to the bedroom for safety, but Makhathini then broke the bedroom window and poured petrol into the room.
“The daughter and her mother’s friend tried to escape through the dining room door, but Makhathini kept pulling on the door and pushing them back into the burning house. They fought back, and the door broke, allowing them to get outside and shout for help.
“While outside, Makhathini assaulted the complainant’s friend. When neighbours came to the rescue, he fled the scene on foot,” said Ngomane.
Detective Sergeant Mpho Humphrey Magwalu’s investigation led to the arrest and conviction.
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