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In a tragic development, a beer fight ended in tragedy after a man burnt himself and his girlfriend to death following a dispute over money for beer.
Joel Mphela of Jeffesville in Atteridgeville, Tshwane went beserk after his girlfriend Ntombifuthi Mabala (38) refused to give him money.
A fight allegedly broke out between the two as Mphela kept on demanding for the money.
According to Ntombifuthi’s relative Jackson Zulu, Mpela became violent and insulted Ntombifuthi after she refused to him the money for beer.
In a fit of rage Mphela allegedly locked the gate and door and went on to pour paraffin all over the shack before setting it on fire.
Luckily their kids managed to escape from the inferno with no injuries.
Neighbors told Daily Sun that they heard the kids crying and screaming for help. They saw huge flames, but couldn’t enter as the gate and door were locked.
Tshwane emergency services managed to put out the fire but it was already too late. Firefighters discovered the bodies of a man and woman who were declared dead by paramedics.
The Tshwane emergency services said the cause of the fire has not been determined yet.
Mapula Rikhotso from Atteridgeville Police Station said an inquest docket was opened. He added that investigations were already underway as they are trying to determine if there was any foul play.
Uncle Lazarus Mphela (44) said Mphela was a good and kind man. He said he is finding it hard to believe that Mphela went to such lengths just because of alcohol.
“The only problem is he was controlled by alcohol when drunk. He introduced Ntombifuthi to us in December and even told me he loved her. It’s sad to see what happened,” he said.
Following the couple’s tragic death, community leader Samuel Masilela has since called on his community members and well-wishers to assist the couple’s children with a shack, clothes, food, school uniforms, and all documents as everything got burnt in the fire.
