A Christmas morning murder in Boitumelo in Gauteng has raised suspicion that a man who was accused of theft was in fact beaten to death for his work bonus and sports bet winnings.

When people heard screaming and went to investigate, they reportedly found David Mabaso (28) being beaten with a spade and wire by a group of men. The attackers claimed that Mabasa had stolen a wheelbarrow.

After the beating, his naked body was dragged to his friend’s shack, where he later died.

Another friend of the deceased, Timothy Mazia (28), told Sedibeng Ster that Mabaso arrived in Boitumelo last Thursday to visit him. “He came to the Vaal to spend his holiday here before returning to Durban.”

Mazia shared his version of events leading up to the murder: “We were all drunk before David’s killing. We offered to accompany him to his sleeping place at one of our friends and he said he remembered the way. Minutes later, I was fetched from my shack by an angry mob, demanding that I go to a scene where David was lying naked.

“When I got there, I was also accused of being part of the thieves David was with. When I reasoned with them, the mob let me go but David was already injured.”

Residents of the area told the publication that Mabaso recently won money in a sports bet and also received a bonus, and said they suspect the killers might have been after his cash.

Sedibeng police spokesperson Constable Tlaleng Moloi confirmed that a case of murder was opened and that two suspects had been arrested.

A date for their court appearance could not be verified at the time of publishing this article.