A brave dad died while trying to save his stepdaughter, 5, moments after their shack was struck with two petrol bombs.
|||Cape Town - A brave dad died while trying to save his five-year-old stepdaughter moments after their shack was struck with two petrol bombs.
But they were both engulfed in flames before 21-year-old Zachariah “Zakkie” Peters could hand little Fazlin Thaker to her mother.
The couple’s one-year-old son Zahier is also fighting for his life in hospital after one of the bombs landed on him.
Now a distraught Laeekah Thaker, 20, is left to pick up the pieces of her life after she nearly lost her entire family.
Zachariah was released from prison just a week ago for housebreaking and was still under correctional supervision.
His heartbroken wife sobbed uncontrollably on Tuesday as she told how unknown men tossed the bombs through a widow of their hokkie in Blikkiesdorp, in Delft, on Monday night.
The young mom was frantically woken up by her husband who desperately tried to save his family.
“Zakkie woke me up and said there are two petrol bombs in our house,” Laeekah said.
“He told me to get out so I climbed through the window for him to give the children to me.
“He gave my son first after one of the bombs fell on him [Zahier].
“[Zakkie then] went back for my daughter but it was already too late.
“A metal sheet fell on him and they both burned to death inside,” an emotional Laeekah said.
Tension ran high in Blikkiesdorp on Tuesday morning as police combed the area searching for leads.
Angry residents standing outside structure D42 claimed they knew who the culprits are.
Many women in the crowded area around the scene cried as Laeekah broke down several times.
“Daai vark gaan brand in die hel vir wat hy gedoen het [that pig is going to burn in hell for what he did],” one angry woman shouted.
The couple’s friend Mishka Augustine, 24, said that Zakkie died a hero.
“He was a true hero, trying to save his whole family,” she explained.
“This is very shocking for all of us and Laeekah is taking this very hard.”
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer November Filander confirmed cops are investigating the double murder.
No arrests have yet been made.
* This article was published in the Daily Voice.