A man who was found dead at a ‘rehabilitation centre’ in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, on Thursday is said to have cried out for help as he was mercilessly beaten.

According to an article published by Witbank News, eyewitnesses allege that men, wearing balaclavas, assaulted the victim with a baton and hit him with their fists.

Police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall says three suspects were arrested on Thursday following Sfiso Mcigo’s (31) death.

Mcigo’s naked body was discovered in a filthy room after he was allegedly assaulted because he reportedly ran away from the rehabilitation centre.

“My heart is broken. We did not know Sfiso was in the rehabilitation centre. He ran away from home in Mhluzi and we thought he was still nearby. His friends told us he was actually in a rehabilitation centre close to Siyanqoba,” says his aunt Nompumelelo Mahlangu.

The owner of the farm where the rehabilitation centre operated told Witbank News he was not aware that the dilapidated building was already in use, as he had an agreement with a pastor from Middelburg to fix it before using it as a rehabilitation centre.

The ‘pastor’ refused to give Witbank News his name and said the rehabilitation centre was registered. He could not produce any registration papers on request.

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