For nine solid times the South African Police received complaints from a family and its lawyers that an estranged husband was threatening their lives.
For nine times the complaints were ignored by the police.
Emboldened the aggrieved husband doused his bed-ridden mother-in-law in petrol and set her alight.
The woman’s daughter had filed for divorce and she and her sister had secured a protection order against her husband.
The family had reportedly spent years living in fear due to his abusive nature.
The family filed a civil lawsuit against police after they allegedly ignored the sisters and their lawyer nine times when they reported his threats at the Sophiatown police station.
The R770,000 damages claim is directed at the Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko, National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega and four police officers stationed at Sophiatown.
The woman’s husband allegedly threatened her and her mother with a gun in September 2013.
He also threatened to burn their house down after they obtained the protection order and allegedly assaulted his sister-in-law.