Former ANC ward councillor Thembi Masinga has reportedly dosed herself with petrol in what seems like a suicide. The shocking incident took place last Saturday at KwaNondabula in Ndwendwe, north of KwaZulu Natal.

According to a community member who did not want to be named, before this incident 66-year-old Masinga was found hanging from the roof of one of her houses but she was rescued. Ward 9 councillor Nzuzo Chamane confirmed the recent incident and said that Masinga allegedly went to town to buy groceries before passing by a petrol station, where it is alleged that she bought petrol, went home, locked herself in one of the rooms and set herself alight. "We are still trying to figure out what may have caused Mama Thembi to kill herself in this horrifying manner. We are in the dark as to what was bothering her so much that she ended her life. The whole village is still shocked because before that she was rescued trying to hang herself in one of her houses," he said. 

Masinga's family was too traumatised to speak to ZiMoja. Chamane said that it was still unclear what could have pushed her to end her life. "She was doing errands, being driven around by a neighbour who was not aware what she was planning. The neighbour is still shaken after the ordeal," he said. Chamane said that Masinga was a people's person and that she enjoyed helping needy families in the community. "She was always involved in the community projects especially those that benefitted disadvantaged families. She was always available whenever she was needed for assistance and that is why the community had access to her house . We have lost a good person, the only thing we are left with are the memories of how she loved her community," he said.KZN spokesperson Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incident. "An inquest docket is investigated by Ndwedwe SAPS. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated," she said.