Hartebeesfontein - Five men accused of kidnapping and attempted murder appeared in the Hartbeesfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, North West police said.
Mangaliso Bonde, 29, Zamani Bonde, 26, George Bonde, 32, Thembi Xandibe, 23, and William Sitele, 19, would be back in court on February 4 for bail applications, Captain Pelonomi Makau said.
They allegedly went to Jan Lephadi's house in Tigane on Saturday and accused him of breaking into their houses. They searched Lephadi's house, but could not find anything. They allegedly assaulted and dragged him to his grandmother's place to recover the items they accused him of stealing. When they could not find anything, two of the men locked Lephadi in the boot of a car and drove him to a bushy area.
“They allegedly poured petrol over him and set him alight,” Makau said.
Lephadi managed to take off his T-shirt and rolled on the ground to extinguish the fire. He sustained burns to his head and back.
Sapa