A woman who allegedly set fire to her Quigney home while her husband and children were asleep inside, was herself rescued from the fiery inferno by a courageous teenager.
The 30-year-old woman – who is due to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court this morning and cannot be named until then – allegedly set fire to their home in a fit of rage on Wednesday night.
Her husband, children – aged eight and 10 – and another couple in the house were saved by their neighbour Patrick Mulaishi, 19, who rushed to their aid after hearing their cries.
Mulaishi broke a locked security gate and grabbed the two children, taking them to safety outside.
The woman’s husband and the other couple managed to flee the building themselves, but the suspect had collapsed due to smoke inhalation.
Mulaishi bravely rushed back into the burning house and emerged moments later with her in his arms.
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the woman faced a charge of “malicious injury ” to property.
The family had been renting a three-bedroom house in Goldschmidt Road for seven months. It was almost completely destroyed.
Neighbours and police sources told the Daily Dispatch that the woman and her husband, 37, had argued just before the fire started.
The argument is believed to have followed an incident on Monday when the wife saw her husband in the company of another woman.
Speaking to the Dispatch, the husband confirmed that he and his wife had a misunderstanding before going to bed that night.
“I fell asleep and then woke up confused by the smell of thick smoke coming from the room. I quickly located the children and rushed with them to the kitchen.”
He said the doors were locked and they were unable to find the keys.
The family shared the house with two other couples. One was not home when the incident occurred.
Trapped, with nowhere to go and hope running out, they heard a loud bang from the back door.
Mulaishi – who had heard their cries – broke through the steel security door and saved everyone.
Buffalo City Metro firefighters arrived to extinguish the blaze.
Mulaishi’s father, Pastor Paul Mulaishi, said he had heard the couple arguing earlier in the day.
He was very proud of his heroic son, and said if it was not for him the occupants of the house could have died. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za