She lived in fear that her son would rape her.

The mother of a North West man who was set alight carried this fear until her son's death.

Lolo Masuge, 28, of Segakwaneng section in Moruleng, near Rustenburg, died after being doused with petrol and burnt at Ramolope section on Sunday night.

His girlfriend, Tumisang Radibe, and a friend known only as Pinky, were also set alight. Radibe and Pinky are currently in hospital.

Radibe was eight months pregnant with Masuge's son at the time of the attack. Her baby also died.

Masuge's mother Kedibone said her son had recently been released from prison. The last time she saw him was sometime last year.

It was his behaviour towards her that often left her worried.

Remarks about his mother's looks would leave Masuge concerned. "He once told me that I was beautiful and I should find him a woman as beautiful as me. One day he also asked to kiss my hand and I thought to myself 'this boy is going to rape me'," Masuge said.

Despite his history, his mother said she was besides herself with grief at losing her son.

Meanwhile, Radibe's mother Connie said she heard screams and saw Masuge in a ball of fire.

"He was screaming and ran to the neighbours. The fire was so intense that it caught on to the grass. Every night I go to sleep, those images come back to me," Connie said.

North West police spokesman Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said they have an idea who was behind the attacks.

"We can confirm that a case of murder and two counts of attempted murder have been registered after two women and one man, aged between 24 and 28, were allegedly doused with petrol and set alight. They were taken to various hospitals after the incident. Unfortunately the man passed away. The suspect is known, but still at large," he said.

selebim@sowetan.co.za