Rustenburg - A man died after setting himself alight in a car at the Tlhabane police station, North West police said on Wednesday.
“Police in Tlhabane are investigating a case of malicious damage to property after a 35-year-old man died when he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by setting fire to his estranged wife's vehicle on Tuesday,” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
The man, who allegedly argued with his estranged wife earlier in the day, followed her to the police station where she wanted to lay a charge of malicious damage to property against him. This was after he threw her cellphone to the floor, damaging it.
“As he arrived at the parking in front of the police station gate, he allegedly poured petrol all over the vehicle he was driving.”
He bumped the car against a police vehicle while trying to park next to it.
The man refused to get out of the car when police officers asked him to, and set it alight.
“Police responded immediately as they were next to the vehicle and rescued the deceased without visible injuries,” said Ngubane.
He refused treatment from paramedics who were called to the scene and was arrested. He started vomiting later in the day and died at the station.
A post mortem would be done to determine the cause of his death. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate would probe the matter.
Sapa