Young man faces court after fire destroys family homestead worth R1.5 million

A 22-year-old man is set to appear in court after police linked him to a devastating fire that destroyed a family homesteadand property valued at an estimated R1.5 million in Rooival village, Limpopo. The fire broke out on Friday, July 24, at about 8pm while the homeowner was in Seshego. He was alerted to the disaster after receiving a frantic call from his younger sister informing him that their homestead was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Mokopane were dispatched to the scene in an effort to contain the blaze. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the homeowner rushed back to Rooival but arrived to find the property completely destroyed. “The homeowner rushed home and upon arrival at about 23:00, found a ten-roomed house and a three-roomed back house completely burned down along with all property inside.” He said preliminary investigations pointed to the homeowner’s 22-year-old nephew as the alleged suspect.

A neighbour reportedly saw him at the scene shortly before the fire spread. Mashaba further revealed that residents scrambled to put out the flames, the suspect attempted to stop them by confronting and fighting with community members before fleeing on foot. “When community members attempted to extinguish the fire, the 22-year-old suspect allegedly tried to stop them by fighting with them before fleeing the scene on foot,” he said.