Two almost killed in arson incident

THABAZIMBI – A tuck shop assistant and 12 year old boy was nearly killed on Monday morning in Regorogile Ext 3 when three men set fire to a tuck shop in the early hours of Monday morning.
Three people from Vaalwater were involved in the incident, but only one, Alfred Mmola (24), was arrested and appeared in court on Wednesday. The other suspects are still at large. Mmola is still in custody. A case of arson and attempted murder is being investigated.
Apparently the three suspects earlier had an argument with one of the victims, Adane Baboro, who works in the tuck shop. They refused to pay for chicken they had ordered. Some threats were made.
It is suspected that the suspects later returned to the tuck shop when the victims were asleep inside, poured petrol around it and set it on fire. Someone from outside managed to kick the door open and the trapped man and boy managed to escape from the shop. The tuck shop was half burnt down and the estimated damage is R10 000.
The victims were treated on the scene for burn wounds and smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital. According to eye witnesses, the victims would have died if they had not managed to escape through the kicked down door.