Everson Luhanga
He was known on the streets as Moruti, meaning pastor, because he was always happy and cheerful.
But at home in Ivory Park extension 10, he was allegedly feared by everyone – his stepchildren and their mother.
On Sunday, hours after a heated argument with his girlfriend, Moruti locked himself and the three children, aged 17, 13 and 10, inside the shack, doused it with paraffin and set it on fire.
They were all burnt alive.
Mponeng Teisi, the mother of the three children, escaped. She had left the shack following their fight.
Teisi said her boyfriend Moruti had been violent and abusive towards her and her children.
She said on Sunday, he came home drunk and started insulting her and the children. He then took a hammer and tried to hit her 17-year-old daughter Pheladi.
“My daughter overpowered him and he fell down. Pheladi threw the hammer under the bed but that didn’t stop him, he went on to get a two-plate stove and hit her with it,” Teisi said.
“I was so tired of his behaviour that I went to my friend’s house as I usually do whenever he fights me or the kids. That was the worst mistake I have ever made.”
Teisi was called by neighbours hours after leaving their shack to say her children had been burnt to death.
When she arrived home, she was greeted by neighbours with buckets they had used to put out the fire.
“Their four bodies were lying in a heap of wreckage,” she said.
“I cannot believe that I lost all three children at the same time. Yes, I loved the man but he became so toxic and abusive to me and my children.”
A neighbour, Derrick Madibane, said the man was seen having a good time with another neighbour until 10pm.
Soon after that there was smoke coming out of his shack and kids were heard screaming for help.
“Panicking, one of the children screamed asking if there was anyone near the shack to break the door. We tried to break the door but the fire was too strong and we couldn’t.
“By the time we were done putting the fire out, they were burnt to death and paramedics certified them dead,” said Madibane.
