Daily Sun (April 7 2015) - THE PAIN of losing the last of his money at a gambling machine was too much for him.
When he fell over and died his gambling buddies found the time to phone the cops.
THEN THEY WENT STRAIGHT BACK TO WHAT THEY LOVED BEST - WITH THE DEAD BODY LYING AT THEIR FEET!
James Moloto (44) witnessed the unknown man's death at a tavern in Polokwane on Wednesday afternoon in Limpopo.
"Before we saw him at the slot machines he was singing and dancing to loud music," said James.
"He looked as if he had just been paid.
"He stood in front of the machine, spending his money like water.
"He was wearing a ZCC badge but that didn't seem to stop him."
But things didn't go well for the lonely gambler.
"At first he looked as if he had too much money but it didn't take long before he was broke.
He was seen walking around the tavern begging for R10 taxi fare to go home."
Jonas said in the end the man went back to the machine.
"He stood there quietly staring at the machine, and then he just dropped dead."
The gamblers called the paramedics but not much else happened.
As the body lay there, other gamblers stepped over the dead man to get to the machines.
Even after the paramedics had declared him dead and wrapped him up in a silver blanket, they just left the body lying there while they waited for the coroner.
For the gamblers it was business as usual, as they gambled and drank beer while paramedics waited for the cops.
One man playing the machines next to the corpse, who asked to remain anonymous, said they went on gambling because no one told them to stop.
"The old man probably died from a heart attack after he lost all his money. I don't know him personally but he often came to the tavern to gamble.
" It was his time to die," said the man.
Some people were heard making jokes.
"He will rest in peace because he died doing what he really loved," said a smiling man with a beer in his hand.
The owner of the tavern wasn't prepared to comment.
Polokwane police have opened an inquest case.
It appears the man may have come from GaMashashane but his identity is unknown and his family can't be contacted.
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