Man burns down Serowe council chamber
Lone Motswetla, 20, accused of setting Serowe District Council on fire last week, is expected to appear before Serowe Magistrate court this morning (Wednesday).
According to No. 2 District Officer Commanding, Senior Superintendent Paul Oketsang, the man who will be taken to court is linked to the fire that broke out at Council Chambers, while full council meetings were ongoing.
The fire was noticed by Councillors during tea break time. “It appears the fire broke out in one of the council chambers and not necessarily the one where the meeting was being held at. Councillors noticed the fire during break time and the police were informed,” Oketsang said.
The police chief added that upon arrival, they found that four couches had burned to ashes while another four were partially burnt. The walls were affected by also the burning fire, leaving black soot on them.
What the police also found were two-litre water bottles on the floor with a colourless liquid substance, causing suspicion that the substance might have been the paraffin that was used in the act.
Investigations in the matter at the time had begun with the police not able to tell who had started the fire. However, a day later, Serowe Police received information from Selibe Phikwe indicating that a man had been caught trying to set Selebi Phikwe council offices on fire.
“The report was that the man was heard screaming inside council premises and that security guards on duty rushed towards him.
“When they asked him who he was and what he was doing there late at night, the man said he was trying to torch the premises but was unsuccessful. When he revealed where he was from, a link was made to what had happened in Serowe,” said Oketsang.
He said the suspect will be charged with arson.
Officer Commanding No 10 District Meshack Pulenyane confirmed that the man was caught in Phikwe, adding that in Phikwe, nothing much burned, but an electric plug where he was trying to ignite the fire.
"For this side, he is likely to face attempted arson charges," he said.
It has not yet been established why Motswetla is burning council premises.
"We hear he is acting somewhat strange, like he is mentally unstable or something along those lines," a source said.