Two held over man’s death

A BIZARRE case of murder is under investigation after a dead man was taken to the Gelvandale police station in Port Elizabeth on the back of a bakkie by the same men who allegedly beat him to death.

According to police, the 31year-old Zimbabwean (name withheld) died from injuries sustained after being beaten with a sjambok and hammer, allegedly by two of his friends.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said they had launched an investigation.

“The bakkie with three of the deceased’s friends arrived at the police station at about 9am. The man was declared dead on arrival and we suspected he had died a short while prior to arriving at the station,” he said.

“The entire incident [centred on] the theft of a cellphone. It is believed that they stripped the man of all his clothes [and] he was severely assaulted.”

By late yesterday morning detectives found the murder scene in the bushes at Draaifontein Road in Greenbushes, west of Port Elizabeth. Asked how the incident transpired, Labans said marks on his wrists matching that of ropes had been noted.

“At this stage it is unclear what happened but we have arrested two of the men who brought him to the police station.”

Asked why the men had driven to Gelvandale Police Station instead of Kabega Park – the closest station, Labans said they were attempting to take him to hospital when he died. Both men will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for murder. — TMG