HAZELMERE, KZN – A quiet community in Hazelmere was left in shock on Monday morning after a 20-year-old woman allegedly set her family’s home ablaze in a moment of frustration and emotional distress.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), officers and paramedics were dispatched to the scene around 10:17 AM following reports of a house engulfed in flames. Upon their arrival, they found the property completely consumed by fire, with the roof already collapsed and thick smoke billowing into the sky.
Emergency services from eThekwini Fire and Rescue swiftly worked to extinguish the flames, which had also spread to nearby power cables, posing a risk to surrounding homes. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the house sustained extensive damage, leaving the family devastated.
Witnesses told authorities that the young woman appeared emotionally distressed and confessed that she had been left alone at home since Friday. Her mother and uncle had reportedly travelled to their rural homestead for the weekend, locking the house before leaving. The woman claimed she had nowhere to sleep or find comfort, which led to a desperate act that spiraled out of control.
In her statement to responders, the woman explained that she initially intended only to burn her clothes out of frustration and despair. She said she used a candle to set fire to the garments but did not anticipate that the flames would spread so quickly. Within moments, the blaze grew uncontrollable, rapidly consuming the entire structure.
“She told us that she did not mean to destroy the house,” a RUSA spokesperson said. “She was upset about being left alone and lit her clothes on fire as an emotional reaction. Unfortunately, the flames spread faster than she expected.”
Neighbours recounted the terrifying moments when they noticed the fire and rushed to help, but the intensity of the flames made it impossible to intervene. “We just saw smoke and flames shooting out of the roof,” one resident said. “It was heartbreaking because we know the family very well—they are good people.”
As firefighters battled the blaze, the young woman watched in tears, visibly shaken by what had happened. When her family arrived later, they were met with the devastating sight of their destroyed home. Despite the loss, they reportedly declined to open a criminal case of arson against her, citing her emotional state and the accidental nature of the incident.
Authorities have not confirmed how the woman managed to gain entry into the locked home, and investigations are continuing.
This tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the impact of emotional distress and isolation, particularly among young people. While no lives were lost, the incident has left the family homeless and the community reeling from the shocking turn of events.
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