The South African Police Services in Gauteng is investigating a murder case after a 42-year-old woman who was set alight lost a battle fighting for her life in Sebokeng Hospital since 26th of October 2024.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, said Linell du Toit passed away on November 3 in hospital after her partner allegedly poured petrol over her and set her on fire. She suffered third to fourth degree burns over 80% of her body. Masondo says the incident took place on Saturday, October 26 around 17:30 at an apartment in Uniestraat where Linell and her partner shared an apartment.
In a closed-circuit video of the incident, one can see how a fire breaks out at the apartment and how a resident of the apartment building then extinguishes the flames. However, in a video on social media, Du Toit said that her partner poured petrol over her and that he told her to say it was an accident. Masondo says the partner is being treated in the same hospital for burns he sustained during the incident. According to Masondo, the man will now be charged with murder.
