It does not rain but pours for Hosi George Mahonisi of the Mahonisi community in Malamulele. He is grieving for the loss of his son, Kenneth, who was mysteriously hit by a vehicle near the village on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old royal, who had been called Hosi Ya Ta (meaning "he is to be our chief") by community members, was buried on Sunday, three days after the accident. Thousands of mourners attended the funeral.

The ailing chief, who has lost his sight due to diabetes, is also suffering from high blood pressure. After he heard about the death of his son, he cried uncontrollably and was admitted to Malamulele Hospital after his blood pressure rocketed. Hosi Mahonisi had lost three children on separate occasions during the past years. They were all hit by vehicles while walking on foot.

In an interview the weekend, he said he was confused and "do not know what I am living for after the death of my son, who was to rule after I die.” Hosi Mahonisi, who is a staunch ANC member, was a founder-member of the Congress of Traditional leaders of South Africa. Although he served a term as member of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, as a blind person he has only a few friends and only a handful of fellow traditional leaders who are his trusted friends attended his son’s funeral. They include Hosi Philia Nwamitwa, Hosi Joas Makuleke and Hosi Gilbert Tshikalange of Tshififi, who was his close comrade during the liberation struggle.

Police spokesperson W/O Alson Mapindani said that a case of culpable homicide was opened by the police at Malamulele after the son was hit by a car in the vicinity of his home area while walking on foot. “No arrest has been made, but investigations are continuing,” said Mapindani.