A man (31) was beaten by his own friends when he allegedly refused to give a cigarette to one of them. According to Alex police spokesperson Warrant Officer Moses Maphakela Mninginisi, the complainant, who is a resident of of 7th Avenue, was on his way home with a friend from the Pan Africa Mall when they were joined by another friend.
That friend them asked for a cigarette and they gave him R2 to buy himself a ‘loose’. He bought himself the ‘loose’ and the trio then proceeded to a fourth friend’s place.
While at the fourth friend’s place, a fifth friend then allegedly approached them and asked them not to give the ‘cigarette beggar’ any money or cigarettes as he had just allegedly robbed him of R100. A fight broke out and the ‘cigarette beggar’ allegedy punched the complainant, who then fell to the ground.
All the friends allegedly joined in to beat the complainant while he was lying on the ground. The ‘cigarette beggar’ then allegedly got hold of a beer bottle, emptied its contents on the complainant, and smashed his head with the bottle.
The complainant had to be rushed to the Alex Clinic, where he was treated and discharged. Maphakela said the men have since been arrested and will appear at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
