A man allegedly set his mansion and two motor vehicles on fire following a domestic dispute with his wife on Sunday afternoon at Mashobeni North.
The suspect, who is alleged to be an illegal gold miner (zamazama) in South Africa, allegedly torched the property after a heated argument with his wife, whom he accused of infidelity.
The couple, who share two children, were residing together at the marital home.
Sources said the incident occurred at around 4pm, when the couple reportedly engaged in a violent argument.
Fearing for her safety, the wife allegedly fled the homestead and sought refuge at neighbouring homes, leaving the two children behind.
“After a few minutes, we heard loud explosions and what sounded like gunshots, which caused panic among neighbours,” said one resident.
It is alleged that flames soon became visible through the perimeter wall of the homestead.
Upon realising that the house was on fire and her children were still inside, the wife reportedly attempted to rush back to rescue them but was restrained by neighbours due to the danger.
“One of the men from the community ran into the yard to rescue the children,” said another neighbour.
“That is when we called the police.”
Police were alerted and later arrived at the scene, where the suspect was arrested.
Neighbours who later viewed the damage said nothing was salvaged from the property.
All household furniture was completely destroyed, while two vehicles, a BMW 1 Series and a Toyota GD6, were reduced to ashes.
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“It is not clear what he used to start the fire because everything was completely burnt. Nothing was spared,” said a neighbour.
A member of the Mashobeni Umphakatsi Council confirmed the incident, saying the community leadership were still shocked by the act.
“We have not yet gone to the homestead to assess the extent of the damage, but we are deeply shocked,” said the council member.
“It is hard to understand how someone can intentionally burn his own home, especially a new house that is less than 10 years old,” he said.
He condemned the act and urged married couples to resolve conflicts peacefully.
“Even when there are disagreements, couples must find peaceful ways to resolve their issues, especially in the presence of children,” he said.
“If problems escalate, families should be involved, and if that fails, the matter should be reported to the umphakatsi council,” he advised.
Deputy Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident, saying investigations were ongoing.
“The matter has been reported to the police and a suspect has been arrested. Further investigations are underway,” said Mnguni.
