Johannesburg - Despite widespread speculation as to what motivated a man to douse himself in petrol and set himself alight at Montecasino at the weekend, an official answer is still not known.
The man died on the scene.
Douglasdale police spokesman Warrant Officer Balan Muthan said an inquest had been opened and an investigation was under way.
“At the moment we don’t exactly know what happened and our members are looking into the incident,” he said on Monday morning.
This will include reviewing security footage at the casino in Fourways.
The man’s family has not yet been notified as his identity is still unknown.
Tsogo Sun, which owns Montecasino, said in a statement that the incident appeared to be a possible suicide.
“An incident involving a possible suicide, involving a man who set himself alight at the entrance, before the security checkpoint of Montecasino, has been reported to the SAPS who are currently investigating,” said group communications general manager Priya Naidoo.
She said emergency services were immediately called to the premises following the incident, which happened on Sunday afternoon. “Emergency services are also on the scene and precautionary measures were immediately taken to ensure the safety of visitors,” said Naidoo.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokeswoman Nana Radebe said the man was dead by the time paramedics arrived at about 4pm.