A lovers’ tiff turned brutal last weekend when an elderly woman was allegedly burnt to death by her daughter’s boyfriend in Extension 9.
Nomathemba Xashimba (59) suffered from third-degree burns and died at Settlers Hospital a few hours after the incident.
A lovers’ tiff turned brutal last weekend when an elderly woman was allegedly burnt to death by her daughter’s boyfriend in Extension 9.
Nomathemba Xashimba (59) suffered from third-degree burns and died at Settlers Hospital a few hours after the incident.
The local branch of the South African Police Service reported that the incident occured during the early hours of Tuesday morning when 29-year-old Simphiwe Ralo stormed into Xashimba’s house, kicking the door open and attacking her.
It is believed that Ralo poured petrol over her and set her alight. However, Nomathemba’s son Thembinkosi said he came to his mother’s rescue after he heard her screaming for help. "I had just arrived home when I heard my mother screaming in the main house. She was saying, ‘I’m dying my child!’ I opened the door and found my mother lying on the floor in flames. I jumped on her and fetched a tub of water to put out the flames. She then told me who had set her alight." He also said that he found his one-year-old niece Ambesa (Ralo’s child) covered in petrol, but she was not injured.
"I then called one of my neighbours to come and assist me. We called the ambulance to take my mother to hospital," he said.
Furthermore, the deceased’s daughter Mandisa Xashimba, who was not at home during the incident, told Grocott’s Mail that her boyfriend might have been angered by the fact that her mother had intervened when Ralo assaulted her three days before the incident. Ralo was arrested and detained for the assault, however upon his release on Monday he allegedly sought Nomathemba out to seek his revenge.
Meanwhile, the gruesome murder has left the Xashimba family devastated. The deceased’s cousin, Mangaliso Busakwe said: "It is wise for the family and neighbours who experienced the incident to go for counselling. This has really disturbed the family."
Ralo was charged with murder and will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrates Court on 10 November for bail application.
