GAY CERES TORTURE MURDER VICTIM LAID TO REST

David Olyne, the 22-year-old gay man from Ceres who was tortured, beaten to death and set on fire almost two weeks ago has been laid to rest.

The Times newspaper reported that the young man was buried at his home in Williston, Northern Cape, on Sunday.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christo Oncker has been charged with his murder and was set to apply for bail in the Ceres Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The newspaper revealed more about Olyne, who is believed to have been the victim of a homophobic hate crime.

He worked at the Family Food and Meat Market in Ceres and was described by his manager, Heather Muller, as a “jolly” person.

“He was a friendly person; he lit up the workplace every morning. He would burst into song, turn up the radio and make me coffee.”

Also on Thursday, locals – including Olyne’s friends – held a protest march against his horrific murder in the town, which has seen at least three attacks on gays and lesbians since 2000.

According to the initial Son newspaper report, Olyne’s alleged killer bragged to a group of teens that he was going “kill a moffie [fag]” before bashing Olyne on the head with a brick and jumping on his face. He then set his victim on fire.

The teens reportedly witnessed the attack but only reported the murder the next day when they returned to find the young man’s charred corpse.