Johannesburg - Many people were left homeless after a man allegedly tried to burn his girlfriend inside her shack and the fire spread rapidly, destroying other people’s homes.
The man, 33, had allegedly removed his belongings from the shack in Zamimpilo informal settlement, Riverlea, and later returned carrying a container. Moments later, he was seen running away.
By the time people realised what was happening, the fire was too strong and they were unable to save anything. Residents cried over their losses as the goods they had worked hard for were reduced to ashes.
undefinedSome bemoaned the fact that their hard-earned salaries, which they had just received, also went up in smoke.
Frustration was etched in many people’s eyes as the thought of spending the night out in the cold loomed.
A woman wailed while surveying the ruins of a shack that was her home.
The alleged arsonist works as a security guard and was stationed at Zamimpilo. His former girlfriend, Noxolo Msimango, said she met him there in February.
The guard had rented his own shack but later moved in with her, she said. When she found out that he was cheating on her, Msimango said she ended the relationship.
“I told him his girlfriend was calling and insulting me and it’s better we break up. But he said we were not going to break up and he was going to do something to hurt me.”
About seven shacks burnt down. No one was injured.
The Star