The Randfontein Police are currently investigating an unusual death.
According to Captain Appel Ernst, the Randfontein Police spokesperson, police were called out to an unnatural death in Mohlakeng on 28 July at approximately 6.50pm.
She said that the officers were informed on arrival at the scene that a 96-year-old wheelchair-bound man had died in a fire.
What makes the death unusual is that the elderly man allegedly informed his neighbour that he was going away.
“He allegedly handed her some money. When asked about his destination, he indicated that he was ‘going to die today’,” said Ernst.
The elderly man left his neighbour’s home at approximately 4pm and returned to his shack.
At 6.15pm another neighbour realised that something was burning in the elderly man’s shack. The shack itself had caught fire and members of the community assisted in putting the blaze out, but unfortunately the elderly man had already burned to death.
Police are now conducting an inquest.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
Also read:
Shocking shack fire statistics revealed
Randgate fire leaves five homeless
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