Man blows himself up on lawn
2006-11-12 16:26
Johannesburg - A mineworker committed suicide in Virginia on Sunday by detonating an explosive charge he had tied to his body while lying on the lawn outside his house.
Sergeant Malebo Khosana said the man was identified as a Mr Du Preez.
"He sent his son and his daughter-in-law, who were staying with him, to the shops before he committed suicide," said Khosana.
He said that after the two had left, the "Du Preez" had phoned his mother to tell her was was going to commit suicide.
He tied an explosive which a police expert said was apparently a commercial explosive, around his body.
"He went and lay on the lawn and detonated the explosive using a battery."
The man's mother called the son and told him what his father told her.
"When the son and daughter-in-law got home they found the man dead. He had left a suicide note."
Virginia pocket have opened an inquest docket.
- SAPA