A 39-year-old man burnt to death in a shack fire in the Phokeng village on Saturday, Free State police said.
Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana said police were doing patrols when they arrived at the scene and saw residents trying to extinguish the fire.
“Their attempts could not save the man who was sleeping inside the shack as it was turned to ashes,” Khosana said in a statement.
“The shack owner was not in the shack when it caught fire. The cause of the fire is not yet established at this stage. However, a case of arson was opened for further investigation.”
The man was identified as Papi Maseru Khoanyane, a security guard in Welkom, by his next-of-kin who were on the scene, Khosana
said. -Sapa