Five people aged between 18 and 24 are now to stand trial

A 31-year-old man was stoned to death in Madibe near Mmabatho, North West police said.

Captain Amanda Funani said the man from Modimolla was attacked on Christmas Day.

She said the man and his four friends drove to Madibe on Monday night. On arrival at a tavern they were involved in a fight.

On Christmas Day when they left, their car ran out of petrol and they call home to be towed.

While they were being towed, the four men who had fought with them the previous night arrived and began vandalising the car with stones, breaking the windows.  

“The victims ran away into a nearby house and hid inside. The suspects went into the house and took the man outside, threw a stone on his chest and started assaulting him.

“It is alleged that the suspects left the man for dead and fled the scene.” 

The man started to bleed and vomit.

Residents took him to Lekoko Clinic where he was certified dead on arrival.

His friends were taken to Bophelong Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

Funani said five people aged 18 and 24 were arrested and would appear in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.