Young academic killed in car accident

The 25-year-old man who was hit by a car at Mandala on Sunday afternoon has been identified as Tshifhiwa Leonard Ravhutulu.

Rolivhuwa Ravhutulu, uncle of the deceased, stated that Tshifhiwa had been on his way home from church in Tshikombani when he had been hit while attempting to cross the R523 to reach his home in Tshivhilidulu village.

“We don't want to play the blame game and say the driver or the deceased was wrong; we know these things happen. We are hurt because we lost someone that we cannot forget,” he said. He added that Tshifhiwa was a very bright young man, on the verge of completing his honours degree in education at the University of Venda. Tshifhiwa was currently working as a primary school teacher at Vhutshilo Mountain School in Tshikombani.

His uncle expressed his disappointment with the individuals who went to the accident scene and took Tshifhiwa’s phones and other belongings. “We are all people and we have different beliefs, but I believe that stealing from a family that is grieving brings more pain to the family and it will also bring you bad luck. Fortunately, someone saw the person who took the phones, and we managed to track her down, and she brought the phones and the router back to the family,” he added.

Tshifhiwa is survived by his mother, an older brother, a young sister, and his girlfriend.

He will be buried on Saturday, 24 February, at the Tshivhilidulu burial site, and his memorial service will be held on Friday, 23 February.

News - Date: 23 February 2024

Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He is passionate about current news and international affairs.

He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017.

He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

Email: [email protected]