Mother and daughters burnt to death shortly after army boyfriend comes to visit
Police are investigating a case of arson and three counts of murder.
House burnt down
A 39-year-old woman and her two daughters aged 17 and 10 years died after their home was burnt down in Mhluzi, near Middelburg, Mpumalanga, Mpumalanga News reports.
The woman’s 44-year-old alleged boyfriend, who is a soldier, was, however, admitted at Midmed hospital with 48% burn wounds on his hands and arms.
Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, the provincial police spokesperson, said the boyfriend was allegedly spotted driving to the deceased’s house in an SANDF minibus a few minutes before the house caught fire.
It is also alleged that while residents were busy trying to put out the fire, the soldier was spotted hitchhiking back to the army base, 4SAI in Middelburg.
The girls were declared dead on the scene, while their mother later died of her injuries.
“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 minibus on Saturday morning,” said Hlathi.
The minibus was partially burnt at the scene. One empty petrol container was found at the scene.
It is further alleged the soldier told guards at his workplace that he sustained his injuries while trying to assist his girlfriend, who was struck by lightning.