VANDERBIJLPARK – A group of neighbors in Bophelong, Extension 9, beat a 25-year-old man to death after accusing him of stealing an extension cord.

The gruesome incident occurred on May 24, when Nhlanhla Masike was fetched from his home by a group of armed men with golf sticks, knobkieries, and sjamboks around 09:00.

This is after three of his other friends were also battered and remain fighting for their lives in the hospital.

Ster visited the Masike family, who shared the shocking details of the ordeal.

Speaking to the paper, mother to the deceased, Tlabole Masike, said her son was killed like a dog.

“I received a call while I was in Durban on a work trip. My daughter told me how a mob ambushed our home looking for my firstborn son. I instructed her to lock the door to remain safe,” she said.

Tlabole later received a call from neighbours, relaying the development of the horrific incident.

“I learned of how Nhlanhla was being beaten with all sorts of weapons the masses had and how he was fighting for his life. We tried to call the ambulance, only for it to arrive in the evening, declaring my son dead,” she said.

“My son might have wronged the community, but he didn’t deserve to die like this. I’m failing to come to terms with his death, and remain broken as a mother,” said the visibly shaken mother.

Tlabole visited the mortuary on Tuesday, where she found her son with head injuries.

“You can tell they were killing him. The wounds on his head are not those of people who were disciplining him,” she said.

Tlabole said she wants justice for her son’s demise.

Vanderbijlpark police spokesperson Sergeant Sabelo Sigcu said investigations into a murder case are underway.