ARSON OUTJIE IN COURT - ‘Jealous’ Heideveld man accused of fire attack faces attempted murder charges

THE man accused of trying to burn his meisie and a vrag other mense alive in a Heideveld flat at the weekend appeared in Athlone Magistrate’s Court on attempted murder charges on Tuesday.

Imeraan Lemmert, 28, stands accused after he allegedly threw petrol on his girlfriend and others who were in the flat. 

As one the men in the flat lit an entjie, the place caught fire and Lemmert allegedly fled after locking the security gate and throwing away the keys.

His girlfriend, whose name is known to the Daily Voice, previously told us that they had an argument after he accused her of sleeping with one of their chommies.

The girlfriend, who was in the flat alongside 10 other adults and five children, explained that she was sober at the time and felt he was looking for a fight, insisting that what he was accusing her of was untrue.

State Prosecutor Nurhan Toefy told the court: “On 22 November at 12.30pm, the accused came into a room, the incident seemed to have happened in a flat in Heideveld and he complained about the noise.

“Witnesses indicated that he left the room and came back and then sprayed petrol on all of the occupants in the room. It is not clear how the fire started, but three of the victims were badly burnt as a result of the actions of the accused.”

Lemmert chose to conduct his own defence and will appeal for bail on 2 December.

In total, 11 adults and five children managed to escape the blaze after they jumped out of a window.

One of the victims, Dillon Malan, is currently at Mitchells Plain Hospital after sustaining injuries to his arm.

Malan explained: “We were aware of the petrol that he threw, and the guy who lit a cigarette thought it was paraffin and he’s currently at Tygerberg Hospital in a critical state.”

He added that Lemmert was kwaad with him because he assumed that he was having an affair with his girlfriend.

One of the community members said outside of court that she was bly that more charges were added as justice needs to prevail.

She said: “Everyone deserves justice as there is one guy that is fighting for his life in hospital and another that is in a lot of pain which is not right. 

“Maybe this will teach him a lesson also for future instances.”