The recent burning of a headman's ten-roomed house at Lwamondo-Habelemu outside Thohoyandou has tongues waging and the community in shock.

Headman Nelson Malima Belemu (60), who stays with his mother, Vhakoma Vho Munzhedzi Tshakona Belemu, was asleep on Saturday at around 21:00 when his house was allegedly torched. Hundreds of thousands of rands' worth of damage was caused during the fire that gutted the house with all its contents.

The headman himself sustained serious burn wounds and is recuperating at the local hospital.

The exact cause of the fire is not known yet, but residents are adamant that it was arson and this has made the community furious. Mr Joseph Ramagoma (46), who is the headman's neighbour, said they were watching the soapie Muvhango when they heard noises outside.

"On investigating, we saw huge flames emanating from the headman's house, but before we could help, the whole house was already engulfed in flames and we could not save anything." Ramagoma further indicated that they had found the injured headman and his mother, who had fainted, outside.

"We had to use a wheelbarrow to carry the injured headman to the ambulance, which was a kilometer away from the house. It's painful that they did not attempt to come to the house and the headman spent a long time without help. At the same time we are also putting the blame on our municipality, which has not tarred the road like we have asked for a long time. It is not easy to come up here," he said.

He said they had no doubts that a flammable liquid had been used to burn the house. "There is no electricity here and the headman confirmed he had lit a candle but had made sure it was off before he slept. The speed at which the fire spread also makes us very suspicious," said Ramagoma.

Vuwani police spokesperson Const Thomas Thovhakale said no case had been opened as no foul play was suspected.