Verulam home gutted in fire after quarrel
A heated argument between an elderly woman and her grandson in Verulam led to the latter allegedly setting their house on fire and razing it to the ground yesterday.
The 26-year-old man was detained by security officials from Reaction Unit South Africa.
Spokesperson Prem Balram says armed reaction officers were notified of a house on fire in Moodley’s Lane in Oaklands at midday.
“Upon arrival, reaction officers found a home engulfed in flames. The eThekwini Fire Department were summoned to the scene and responded speedily,” he said.
Balram added that despite the swift reaction of firefighters, the home was completely gutted by the blaze.
“The house was completely destroyed. Reaction officers interviewed the elderly woman and she explained that she was outdoors with her teenage grandson when the fire started.
“Neighbours who were also interviewed by officers contradicted this and informed us that the woman's 26-year-old grandson had set the bed on fire during an argument with his grandmother,” he said.
“The woman's teenage grandson confirmed that his brother set the bedroom on fire during a heated argument regarding an upcoming court matter.”
Balram says that it's understood that the man had packed a change of clothes and had fled on foot.
“Reaction Officers searched the area and the suspect was arrested near the Verulam Crematorium, nearly 1.5km from the home,” he said.
See photos from the scene below.
(Photos: Reaction Unit SA)