Free State - A man has appeared in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court after he allegedly burned his girlfriend’s house, injuring a four-year-old child who was inside at the time, Free State police said on Friday.
Sergeant Mamello Mokhuoane said Sibusiso Wili, 29, appeared in court on Wednesday and the case was postponed to June 11, for a formal bail application.
Mokuoane said Wili was arrested on Monday after he allegedly burnt down his 24-year-old girlfriend’s house at Sunrise, Thabong.
“It is alleged that on Sunday, 31 May 2015 at about 7pm, Wili visited his girlfriend’s house to see his two-month-old baby boy. When he entered the house, for no apparent reason, he started arguing with his girlfriend’s sister and other neighbours who were visiting the house at the time of the incident,” Mokhuoane said.
She said he left the house with his son but came back allegedly with a sword, broke down the kitchen door and broke the house windows with bricks, said Mokhuoane.
“Wili again left the house, and later came back and burned the bedroom curtain with a candle through the broken window.”
Mokhuoane said the house burned down and the four-year-old who was sleeping in the bedroom at the time was burned on the left side of his body.
Wili apparently fled the scene on foot while his girlfriend’s siblings called police and emergency services. The child was taken to hospital.
A case of arson was opened by Thabong police, and the suspect was arrested at his place of residence the next day.
ANA