SEBOKENG – Following the screaming marathon, a whistle was blown by a group of his suspected killers pretending to have caught a thief. Standing in disbelief, the residents watched as David Mabaso (28) was dragged naked to another shack after being beaten with a spade and a wire.

Moments after the brutal incident, David lost his life when he was locked in a shack belonging to one of his friends. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Timothy Mazia (28), a friend to the deceased, said that David arrived in Boitumelo on Thursday to pay him a visit.

“My friend came to the Vaal to spend his festive holidays with me before he returns back to Durban. His stay was cut short by men who accused him of trying to steal a wheelbarrow. What’s confusing is that his killer, refused to interrogate nor see David after they assaulted him in his yard,” he said.

Mazia said he suspected that David was in the wrong yard before his heinous killing.

“We were all drunk before David’s killing. We offered to accompany him to his sleeping place, where one of our friends stays and he said he remembered the way. Minutes later, I was fetched from my shack by an angry mob, demanding me to 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 from the beating and dragging.”

“I don’t think David was beaten for burglary. That was just a diversion story to mislead the masses. The man was clearly in the wrong shack at the wrong time due to being intoxicated,” added Mazia.

Residents living close by the shack where the incident took place, said David had money from sports bet and also had his bonuses.

“The man was dressed in expensive branded clothes when he arrived. He was flashing money since day one. He was buying beers and braaiing meat for everyone. How does such a person steal a wheelbarrow?” said an eyewitness who refused to be named.

Another resident said when David was being beaten by his killers, he was locked in the yard.

“If he had stolen from his assailant and his wife, how would he have gained access to the yard because it is secured with barbed-wire all round? We heard the whistle and didn’t help discipline David because all he said was ‘I am sorry’,” said the resident.

“After David’s arrival, the man was also seen at the same yard where he was beaten. His bag pack was carried by his killer. We suspect he wanted his fortunes and they created a story to stop him from getting it, unfortunately he died during the wrongdoing,” she said.

Sedibeng cluster Police Spokeswoman, Constable Tlaleng Moloi said that a case of murder was opened and two suspects have been arrested.