DURBAN - A KWAZULU-Natal man says his family have been left devastated after his sister succumbed to injuries suffered when she was locked in a shack that was set alight in Ixopo.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Nqobile Gwala said the matter was being investigated by Ixopo SAPS.
“On June 24 at 10.30am, police officers received notice of a woman who died in hospital. Upon arrival, police found the body of a 33-year-old woman with burn wounds. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated,” said Gwala.
While police said an inquest docket was being investigated, the KZN Department of Social Development (DSD) said it was believed a man had set alight the shack after he had altercation with his girlfriend.
The department said the woman was rescued by neighbours who heard her cries and she was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
“The alleged perpetrator is still at large,” said the department.
The victim's brother, Bongumusa Radabe, said his sister Nonhlanhla Radebe was working in a bottle store in Ixopo town.
“Her neighbour called my mother and we rushed to the hospital where she was being treated. We managed to get there while she was still alive.”
Radebe said his sickly mother had been severely affected by his sister’s death.
“I am pained to see her like this and I wish she did not have to go through all of this,” he said.
Radebe said his sister was the breadwinner in the family as he is unemployed.
DSD MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, called on police to urgently track down the suspect.
“Communities should work with the department to isolate all those involved in gender based violence (GBV). We cannot sit on our laurels while women and children suffer at the hands of criminals who once claimed they loved them," she said.
THE MERCURY