Arsonists attack BRT driver's Soweto home A BUS Rapid Transit (BRT) bus driver's house was petrol-bombed last night in Chiawelo, Soweto, in what the man believes is an act linked to the taxi strike that ended yesterday. Dumisani Mazibuko, 50, said he had been asleep at about midnight when he was awoken by footsteps in the yard. When he woke up to investigate, he heard a loud bang from the dining room. When he opened the door, he saw a ball of fire. "I knew my house had been petrol-bombed," he said, adding that, together with his wife they rushed to the other bedroom where his four children were sleeping. They both helped them escape through the window. His terrified wife Sibongiseni screamed for help and within minutes neighbours came through and helped them douse the flames using buckets of water and a hose. Mazibuko said he heard rumours last week that some taxi operators were going to attack BRT drivers. When The Star arrived at the house this morning it was cordoned off and a police vehicle was parked outside. The damage was visible from outside. While City of Joburg mayoral committee member for transport Rehana Moosajee confirmed the bombing and that Mazibuko was a BRT driver, the police could not reached for comment. Meanwhile, in another incident, in nearby Mapetla, a five-month-old baby has died and his mother hospitalised after a mysterious attack at their Soweto house last night. According to one of the survivors, 19-year-old Lerato Sekoati, a gang broke into the house at about 8.40pm. The three intruders were apparently accompanied by a woman who had covered her face. Using firearms to hold the Sekoati family hostage, the gang took Lerato's mother, Grace, and her five-month-old child into a bedroom. They then allegedly poured petrol over them and set the house on fire. The motive for this attack remains unknown. In total five children were in the house, and all but the baby managed to survive. Lerato said her grandmother had also been taken to hospital because of an asthma attack. Police have opened a case of murder and arson. -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . |
