This follows the death of a 39-year-old woman and her two daughters aged 17 and 10 years who died after their home was burnt down on Friday night around 21:30, at Extension 6.
The woman’s 44-year-old alleged boyfriend who is a soldier, was later admitted at Midmed hospital with 48% burn wounds on his hands and arms.
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Brig Leonard Hlathi, the provincial police spokesperson, said the boyfriend was allegedly spotted driving to the deceaseds’ house in an SANDF minibus a few minutes before the house caught fire.
It is also alleged that while members of the community were busy trying to put out the fire, the soldier was spotted hiking back to the Army Base, 4SAI in Middelburg.
The girls were declared dead on the scene while their mother died of her injuries on Saturday morning.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the soldier had booked fuel in two 25 litre containers as he was to go to North West, on an official duty in the state mini bus on Saturday morning,” said Hlathi.
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The mini bus was partially burnt at the scene. One empty petrol container was found at the scene.
It is further alleged that the soldier told guards at his workplace that he sustained his injuries while trying to assist his girlfriend who was struck by lightning.
The soldier is under police guard in hospital.