A Fight over a house is believed to have led to the deaths of a young mother, her boyfriend and two children.
The 22-year-old mother owned a house she inherited from her grandfather in Orlando East, Soweto.
This was the third attempt on Gugu Mhlanga's life since December last year when she was shot three times and her house set alight. She and her family as a result lived in a shack on the property.
This time she did not survive. Her boyfriend known only as Themba, her two children - Azokuhle, 3, and one-year-old Lindokuhle - died with her.
Her grief-stricken aunt, Onica Sikhakhane, 50, said she was heartbroken that her niece died for a house that was rightfully hers. She is related to Mhlanga's late father.
Mhlanga spent months recovering in hospital and then went to live with Sikhakhane at her home also in Orlando East.
"There is an old woman who bares the same surname as Gugu from Alexandra who wants this house so badly. I do not know who she is or how she could be related to Gugu from her mother's side.
"The title deed and house papers are in Gugu's name," Sikhakhane said.
The family of four was burnt in a shack in the early hours of yesterday. The attacker is believed to have planned the murders.
A neighbour who arrived at the scene a few minutes after the fire broke out said the attacker had locked the burglar door using a chain and lock to ensure that they did not escape the blaze.
"He then took a gas cylinder and inserted the pipe into the shack and released the gas.
"We do not know how long he waited before he set the shack on fire. What happened here is horrible. I will never forget it," she said.
Tenants in Mhlanga's yard said they were woken up by loud screams.
"I saw Themba standing at the door, screaming and pleading that we should get the children out. We could not open the burglar door because of the steel chain used to lock it.
"Right then, there was an explosion. He fell down," said the tenant.
Orlando police spokeswoman Captain Nomvula Mbense said no arrests had been made and police were investigating.
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