Kabega teacher ‘sets herself alight’ behind school

Port Elizabeth – A 57-year-old woman, who ran a children’s learn and play centre in Kabega Park, is believed to have committed suicide in a vacant plot behind the school on Wednesday morning by setting herself alight.

Mandela Bay police spokesperson Captain Johan Rheeder confirmed police had found the body of the woman, who was also a teacher at the school, at around 11:30.

Rheeder said the woman had sustained severe burn wounds and was believed to have died from her injuries.

“An inquest docket has been opened and no foul play is suspected at this stage,” he said.

It is believed the woman told her daughter, who also works at the school, she was going for a walk shortly before the incident took place.

The children at the creche were not aware of the incident. The school contacted the parents shortly afterwards and asked them to fetch their children.

This was the third incident in Nelson Mandela Bay this year where a person has died after setting themselves alight.

On August 29, Graeme Chellow, 56, set himself alight in his Land Rover in Woltemade Street in Despatch, and hairdresser Carina Liebenberg set herself alight in her car in front of a shop in Roshaan Street, Linton Grange, in April.

Liebenberg was taken out of the car alive, but succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

Rheeder said the woman’s name would be released once the family had been informed.

Derrick Spies, News24 Correspondent