Gran killed over wet nappy

2003-08-17 21:01

Nahima Ahmed

Soweto - A 73-year-old grandmother was burnt to death after an argument over a washing line on Saturday.

Agnes Mnanzana from Moponya, Soweto died in front of her husband, Petros (83), and her seven-year-old grandson, after her 22-year-old grandson allegedly poured two litres of petrol over her and set her alight.

"The fire was bad and her spirit was tortured in its last moments," cried Petros.

He told how he had begged his grandchild not to burn his wife, but he was pushed to the other end of the room.

The helpless 83-year-old told the Daily Sun he triied to put out the fire.

"I pushed her to the floor, but I could do nothing because he had poured too much petrol on her," added Petros.

Wet nappy

Gladys, the dead woman's daughter, said her death was caused by her grandson's girlfriend, Busi, who had been living with them for the last six months.

"On Friday afternoon my mother and Busi argued about who could hang clothes on the washing line.

"My mother asked Busi to leave space for her as she wanted to hang out a curtain.

"Busi then got angry and removed all the nappies she had washed," said Gladys.

Busi then dressed her one-year-old baby in a wet nappy. Then when the boyfriend arrived home he wanted to know why the child was wet.

"She lied to my cousin and said granny refused to let her hang the nappies. He got angry and began to fight with his grandparents," said Gladys.

Busi said Mnanzana, along with one of her daughters, had assaulted her during their fight for the washing line.
"Busi never had a good relationship with Mnanzana and the rest of the family. Now she is the cause of my mother's death," said Gladys.

Fled

Busi had apologised at a family prayer on Saturday night, and then run away.

"She told us she was sorry because she did not know things would go this far. She said she had had enough of gogo, which is why she lied," said Gladys.

On Saturday morning Mnanzana's grandson handed himself over to the Moroka police.

"He has been charged with murder and arson. He will be in court today," said Captain Mbazima Shiburi of the Soweto police.

- Daily Sun