Estranged husband, 51, sets his home on fire killing himself and his two daughters, 13 and 9, in suspected double murder-suicide
Gladwn Mboweni reportedly set his home on fire killing himself and his two daughters in suspected murder-suicide on Monday, October 12
Mboweni, 51, allegedly, accelerated the blaze using using a highly inflammable substance
13-year old Minkateko Mboweni and her 9-year-old sister Tsakani also died in the incident after their dad is believed to have set their home ablaze early in the week
The suspected case of domestic arson happened at Nkowankowa township outside Tzaneen in South Africa’s Limpopo province
Neighbors managed to rescue the father, but he had already suffered smoke inhalation and died on the scene, the the burnt bodies of the two girls were found in separate rooms after the blaze was put out
Mboweni, the Mopani District Manager of Stats South Africa is estranged from his wife and the girls were staying with their father after their parents separated, police said
The motives have not been announced but cops are not say the motive was still unknown but they are not ruling out domestic violence

A 51-year old father is believed to have committed suicide in South Africa by setting his home on fire using a highly inflammable substance.
Gladwn Mboweni, and his two daughters, 13-year old Minkateko and Tsakani Mboweni,9, also died in the incident which happened at Nkowankowa township outside Tzaneen in Limpopo.
Police spokesperson, Brig. Motlafela Mojapelo, who confirmed the incident on Monday, October 12, say the motive was still unknown but they are not ruling out domestic violence.


“The neighbors allegedly saw the house engulfed in flames and jumped over the wall fence to rescue the occupants. They broke one of the windows to get inside and in the process managed to rescue the father who had already suffered from smoke inhalation. He died on the scene.” said Brig. Mojapelo.
“The intense blaze and smoke forced them out. The police and emergency personnel as well as fire fighters were immediately summoned and after the fire was extinguished, the burnt bodies of the two children were found in separate rooms,” Mojapelo added.
Police suspect that “the father set the house alight using a highly flammable substance”.
Investigators said Mboweni, who was the Mopani District Manager of Stats South Africa, and his wife were estranged. His daughters were staying with him after the couple’s separation.
Condemning the incident, provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nneke Ledwaba urged members of the community facing domestic challenges or strained relationships to seek professional help instead of resorting to acts of extreme violence.

Social workers were immediately dispatched to the scene to provide psychosocial support to bereaved families and other affected parties.
Meanwhile, the MEC for Social Development Mme. Nkakareng Rakgoale has reacted with shock over the incident.
“Incidents of GBV are happening at an alarming rate in the province, hence we are calling on all the people to contact our social workers when they are experiencing difficulties in their relationships and families. We have our family preservation programs that are aimed at assisting families that are in conflicting and toxic relationships,” she said.
“Our social workers have started providing psychosocial support to the mother of the children and to other affected parties,” she added.
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