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INFERNO: The outside room in which a Soweto man set himself and his family alight on Tuesday night.

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The 31-year-old man died in hospital on Wednesday night from burn wounds he suffered in the fire, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said today.

The woman is still in a critical condition in hospital.

The fire which killed the three brothers, aged 3 years, 7 years and 10 years old, was apparently started by the father.

Makhubela said the man had a fight with their mother on Tuesday night.

“They went to bed and he later woke up and went to buy petrol and returned to the house,” he said.

The man apparently locked himself and the rest of the family in their house, doused it with petrol and set it alight.

He apparently suspected his partner of having an affair with his brother.

Neighbours say they heard screams before a loud bang alerted them to the fire just before midnight on Tuesday.

The man's grandmother, who lives a street away from the scene of the blaze, told how hysterical the burnt woman was when she rushed for help. Her actions were also tinged with despair and agony at having to watch helplessly as her children perished.

"It was 1am when she came knocking, crying and screaming, shouting that my grandchild had burnt her children. I was terrified. I could hardly recognise her. Her clothes had melted to her skin," she said.

The man had allegedly set fire to the outside room he shared with the woman, who had been his live-in lover for 10 years, and their children.

The couple is said to have been planning to get married in December.

Amid tears, the man's brother told Sowetan that there had been a misunderstanding about a dinner between him and the woman, which had led to a fight between the couple.

"After work I passed by my brother's place, only to find him sleeping, while my sister-in-law was cooking and she dished up for us and the kids," the brother said.

"After eating I left, seeing that he was fast asleep. Later in the evening I received a message from her saying: 'Your brother is accusing me of having a Valentine's Day dinner with you - in his presence - and that we are sleeping together'."

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Fri May 24 16:31:35 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 21, 2012

Msiphos00

hhayi ke RIP
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Jun 21, 2012

Lesoba-Le-Boya

Tsamaya ntja
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Jun 21, 2012

Phunyukabemphethe

Rest in hell
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Jun 21, 2012

LLCool

R.I.P.

where are Limpopo haters? you only say this kind of things happen in Limpopo only.
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Jun 21, 2012

Tsipapa

zola,,,,,,,
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Jun 21, 2012

thathakonke

I feel pity for this family as they are going through a rough time and all this burial costs they are facing. We need to pray for this family
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Jun 21, 2012

Maezizsto4Sure

Why ba mmolaile mara?Nkabe ba mo tlogetse a ye tronkong a tshwana le lesilo kikikikikikikikiki.Post mortem should be carried out,I doubt if he died because of his injuries.
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Jun 21, 2012

KKK

Go join other monsters like you in hell...May the souls of the innocent kids RIP
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Jun 21, 2012

sh!tFaceSamsung

LLCool
if i may ask u sir: how old r u?
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Jun 21, 2012

Camden

Vat en Sit is not Okay. She has 3 kids with the man(bastard), ten years in the relationship and no marriage? Was he still looking for other "better" women?.
Ladies, if there is no talk of marriage after six months into the relationship, its not going to happen. count your loses and move on (not move in with him)......this is only my personal opinion.
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