It was reported by Daily Sun that Lebogang Kgomo (25) had a few beers, and while navigating the street, he lost balance and leaned on a neighbour’s gate, causing it to rattle.
Upon hearing the noise, the house owners suspected him of attempting to jump the fence to commit robbery.
Community leaders were informed and, without seeking any explanation, allegedly assaulted him on Sunday, 17 November.
Tragically, Lebogang is now dead, and four community leaders are jailed.
The Kgomo family demands justice, insisting the perpetrators rot in jail for a crime their son didn’t commit.
“Jail is where they belong. Lebogang wasn’t found with any dangerous object,” said family spokeswoman Kwena Kgomo.
“They can’t explain why they did it. He went to chill at the tavern like any other young person.”
Kwena said Lebogang never attempted to flee, demonstrating his innocence.
The incident originated with a community leader in Winnie Mandela, Thembisa, who allegedly called for community action against Lebogang.
“She assumed he tried to open the gate to steal and summoned three other leaders to assault him,” said Kwena.
After the initial assault, Lebogang returned to the tavern, but the suspects forcibly dragged him out to continue the attack.
They ignored his desperate cries for help, even when his father intervened, trying to explain.
Despite their pleas, the leaders wouldn’t listen and forced Lebogang back near his father’s home, continuing to beat him until he landed in hospital, where he later died.
“They left him in the street and changed into clean clothes, but it didn’t help them,” said Lebogang’s sister, Mmanku Kgomo.
“Lebogang was a frail person known to them since childhood, and he worsened when drunk. They knew he was a mechanical engineering student at Daveyton TVET College, not a thug. Lebogang excelled in maths and science, with a promising future they chose to end.”
The four community leaders were arrested for his murder. Ekurhuleni district police spokeswoman Captain Nelda Sekgobela confirmed that their arrest is related to the victim’s murder.
Lebogang will be laid to rest this weekend in Limpopo.
