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Seated in front of one of the burnt huts are, from left to right, Mr Richard Morolana (general manager, community services), Cllr Rabelani Gadabeni, Mayor Mihloti Muhlope and Mr Nathi Tshiwanammbi (municipal manager). Standing at the back is Mr Kenny Ravhuanzwo (manager for housing and social services).

Family in hiding after houses set alight

 

A 40-year-old mother of Mbodi Tsha Fhasi village in the Musina Municipality area and her five children are now in hiding, after they cheated death by a whisker.

This comes after her husband allegedly set their three houses on fire in the middle of the night. It is suspected that he thought that they were all asleep. Fortunately, she was tipped off by a community member and fled with her children before the angry fire reduced everything to ashes. The suspect, whose name is known to Limpopo Mirror, has since fled and police have launched a massive manhunt for his arrest.

Local community members are linking this attack to family violence, since the woman had a protection order against her husband. The woman’s identity, photos and those of her children are being withheld for their safety.

In an exclusive interview from her hiding place, the woman said that community members allege that her husband was on a drinking spree at a local tavern that night. “He told some of the patrons that he was going to kill me and my children, by setting us on fire while we sleep. They said he was boasting that he was going to kill 'the dog and its puppies' tonight. Fortunately, someone called me and told me to vacate the home as fast as possible, because my husband was going to kill me that night.”

The woman said that they ran away with only the clothes they were wearing, because they had to save their lives before the man set the houses on fire. “We could see the fire from a distance and my husband was sure that we were all burnt out in the houses. Although we are in hiding, we thank God that we are still alive.”

The woman said the unfortunate part is that everything was reduced to ashes and her children were supposed to write final examinations. “Their books, clothes, birth certificates, blankets and food are all destroyed. The eldest is 19 and is in Grade 10. The other ones, 16 and 13, are all in Grade 8. The 10-year-old one is in Grade 5 while the last-orn, who is five years old, does not go to school. We appeal to Good Samaritans to assist with anything in the form of donations, because we do not have anything at this stage.”

The mayor of Musina, Cllr Mihloti Muhlope, and some of the municipal management team members immediately rushed to the scene on the morning after the fire incident. She met the family in their hiding place and counselled them accordingly. She condemned the incident and urged community members to assist the police in arresting the suspect.

“This is the most barbaric act of family violence I have ever experienced. The suspect should be arrested, and we should all go out and assist the police. We also urge community members and the business sector to make any donation to the mother and her children, so that they can pick up the pieces and continue with life. As a caring municipality, we have managed to arrange blankets and food parcels for this family.”

Those who would like to assist the desperate mother and her children can arrange with Mr Kenny Ravhuanzwo, Manager for Housing and Social Services at Musina Municipality. His contact number is 079 491 0221.  

Photographed in one of the burnt huts are, from left to right, Mr Kenny Ravhuanzwo (manager for housing and social services), Mr Nathi Tshiwanammbi (municipal manager), Mr Rabelani Gadabeni (local ward councillor), Mr Richard Morolana (general manager, community services) and Mayor Mihloti Muhlope.

 

Date:18 November 2017

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