A 43-year-old South African man has allegedly doused his wife and two children with petrol and set them alight inside a room they were renting in Mpumalanga.

Police spokesperson Donald Mdluli says community members rescued the three from the flames.

However, the two children later died in hospital and the mother sustained serious injuries. The father later committed suicide.

Mdluli says they are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and arson.

“The two kids later died in hospital the man was also found hanging. According to the reports it indicates that he might have committed suicide. The wife is still in hospital. So the police are investigating two counts of murder, arson and an inquest.”