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A Gauteng mother was rushed to hospital after her car was set alight during an attack outside a Benoni school on Monday by a man believed to be her boyfriend, according to police.
The woman had just dropped off her 4-year-old child at the pre-school when the man approached her car and smashed the driver's window.
The woman and a passenger fled from the car toward the pre-school.
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In video footage seen by News24, the man is seen returning to his car, grabbing something inside it before heading to the victim's vehicle. The man is then seen motioning towards the vehicle with the item in his hand.
In an apparent attempt to stop the man, the woman heads back to her car. Moments later the car bursts into flames and the woman, who was now standing near her vehicle, catches alight.
The man then gets into the burning vehicle before jumping out.
The owner of the pre-school, who did not want to be named, said the mother was admitted to hospital where she is reportedly in the ICU. She said the minor child was in the care of a loved one.
It's unclear what happened to the man following the incident, though the pre-school owner believed he was also taken to hospital.
Gauteng police said they were investigating what appeared to be a domestic violence-related assault at a school in Benoni.
Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed the incident.
She said police were investigating an attempted murder case.
Kweza said the woman is 27 years old, while her boyfriend is 40.
"The suspect, 40, was also injured during the incident and was taken to hospital where he is under police guard. An additional charge of malicious damage to property will be added after the woman's car was burnt beyond [repair]. The woman, who was with a friend, both sustained burn injuries. They were rushed to hospital as well. At this stage, the motive is under investigation," said Kweza.
ER24 - in a statement on Monday afternoon - confirmed that two women and a man were hospitalised this afternoon when a man allegedly poured petrol over himself and a light motor vehicle, setting it alight.
The paramedics arrived at the scene at 06:48 and found the provincial fire services already there. A light motor vehicle was alight in the parking area.
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