The man did this indoors whereupon she involuntarily clutched at him, setting him alight too, the woman was heard calling for her mother for help.
The screaming pair than rushed outside where they were stopped by concerned neighbours.
“ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the two patients in the court of the flats surrounded by local authorities and provincial services,” ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said in a statement on Monday.
“Medics assessed the patients and found that the woman had sustained serious burn wounds to her chest, back and arms while the man had sustained soft tissue injuries over most of his body,” Meiring added.
It is alleged that the boyfriend comes from Tshepiso. Police are investigating a case of assault with intend to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Police spokesperson, Captain Teboho Lephoto, confirmed that a 48 year-old suspect was caught by the neighbours and handed to the police for the arrest.
He will be charged with an attempted murder of his girlfriend. Police said it is believed that the suspect poured her with flammable liquid and set her alight. Members of the public assaulted the man after the incident.
The woman was rushed to hospital and admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) for sustaining third degree burns.
The suspect was also admitted at the hospital and is under police guard, said Lephoto.