Ekurhuleni robber beats up woman and her child for being dead broke, then burns them to death

NEIGHBOURS phoned Thabo to tell him his house was on fire and he rushed home to be with his family. But little did he know a worse tragedy was yet to come.
At the hospital his dying wife told him what had happened.
"I was at work when I got a call to come home. Neighbours told me my house was on fire. I came running only to find my wife and four-year-old son in pain in the ambulance," said Thabo Masuku (36) from Vusimusi section in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni.
He said he followed them to hospital where his badly burnt wife, Refiloe Gumbi (30) told him what had happened.
"Refiloe said a man came into our shack with a knife, demanding money. When she said she had none he beat her and our son up. Then he splashed them with paraffin from the primus stove and struck a match," said Thabo.
The fire on Saturday, 24 October totally destroyed the shack. Siyabonga died the next day and Refiloe clung on desperately to life but died last Friday. The funeral of mother and son will take place today.
Blessing Masuku, his six-month-old baby girl who was saved, has been treated for smoke inhalation and is being cared for by a neighbour.
Thabo also has a daughter (6) and a son (9) that he has to care for.
"My shack was burnt down with everything I had in it. I have no home and my children need to be looked after," he said. "There are two bodies in the mortuary that need to be buried but I have no money."
He said he is grateful to his neighbour for looking after Blessing. "I can’t believe I have lost two souls I loved so much together."
Timothy Modiba (44), who has been helping Thabo, said it was very difficult to see his friend like this. "We spoke to an undertaker who is willing to help. But we need at least R5 000 for the burial," said Timothy.
Tembisa police spokeswoman Constable Patricia Mgijima confirmed that police are investigating a double case of murder.
She said no one has been arrested.