A disgruntled worker was arrested on Friday after allegedly burning down his boss’s house in Hyde Park, Johannesburg police said.
”The entire house burnt down,” said Inspector Moses Maphakela.
He said the worker was angry after his employer told him a job he had been hired for was complete and his services were no longer required.
The 24-year-old man then allegedly set alight a house in Fourth Street in Hyde Park, which belonged to his boss and which the employer used as accommodation for his workers.
Eight workers were inside the house when it was set alight at about 1am.
”He [the alleged arsonist] said his boss was chasing him away from work because the work was finished and he did not need him anymore,” said Maphakela.
The man told his fellow workers he was so angry that he was going to burn down the property.
”They thought he was just lying,” said Maphakela.
All the occupants of the house managed to escape unhurt with their belongings when the fire started.
Firefighters fought the blaze from 1am to 6am.
”The estimated damage is about R500 000.”
The man was arrested on the scene and will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. — Sapa