Doreen Mokgolo
A fight over stolen alcohol, sold for R10 to score a quick fix of crystal meth, has left taxi driver Steven Mogale dead.
The 32-year-old was burned alive in an alleged revenge attack while sleeping in his shack in Stinkwater, north of Tshwane, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It is alleged that on Saturday night, Mogale was hanging out with a group of friends at a local tavern when one of the group stole their alcohol and sold it outside.
A distraught Ephraim Ngwepe told Scrolla.Africa that they caught the suspect red-handed and confronted him.
“He was already high and refused to hear reason; he started threatening to kill us all and said he would start by burning Steven in his shack,” he said.
“We didn’t take his threats seriously because he was under the influence.”
Ngwepe said that they left the tavern for home at 3am but were called two hours later as their friend’s shack was on fire.
The suspect allegedly doused Mogale’s shack with petrol and set it alight.
Neighbours tried to put out the fire with buckets and hosepipes but the flames were too vicious.
“We watched helplessly as our friend’s body was reduced to ashes.
“I can still hear him screaming for help. The scene keeps playing in my head over and over,” Ngwepe said.
Resident Martha Sekwaila said the suspect was apprehended by the angry mob, while hiding in his home.
“He didn’t bother running away after the incident but waited around, gloating that he told Steven that he would kill him.
“He is lucky that he was rescued from an angry mob by the police,” she said.
She mourned a neighbour and a trusted taxi driver who would drop off late-night passengers at their gates to ensure that they were safe.
The police have confirmed that a case of murder is being investigated.
