LIMPOPO – A 22-year-old nephew has been arrested for arson following a devastating fire that destroyed family property valued at an estimated R1.5 million in Rooival Village.
The incident allegedly occurred on Friday, 24 July 2026, at approximately 20:00. The homeowner, who was in Seshego at the time, received a telephone call from his younger sister alerting him that their homestead was engulfed in flames. Emergency fire personnel from Mokopane were immediately summoned to the scene to combat the blaze.
Upon rushing home and arriving at approximately 23:00, the homeowner discovered that a ten-roomed main house and a three-roomed back house had been completely burned down, resulting in the total loss of all property contained within the structures.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Mahwelereng Police indicate that the suspect is the homeowner’s nephew. A neighbour reportedly observed the 22-year-old male at the scene of the fire. Furthermore, it is alleged that when community members attempted to intervene and extinguish the flames, the suspect actively tried to stop them by engaging in a physical altercation before fleeing the scene on foot.
Following the opening of a formal arson case, an immediate manhunt was launched by local authorities, leading to the suspect’s successful arrest in Rooival Village. He is scheduled to appear before the Mokerong Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 27 July 2026, to face a charge of arson.
Police investigations into the matter remain ongoing.
