The Vhembe District Municipality is in deep mourning, following a double blow that hit the municipality within a month’s time. This comes after the municipality´s communication head, Ndivhuwo “Screamer” Mamathuba (52) died on Sunday after short illness in the Medi-Clinic in Polokwane.

Earlier this month, the former mayor of Musina municipality, Mr David Phologa, who was a member of the Vhembe District’s mayoral committee, was found dead in the Holiday Inn in Polokwane.

The municipal manager of the Vhembe District Municipality, Mr Muthotho Sigidi, confirmed the death of Mamathuba. “It is a terrible blow for the municipality. Mamathuba was a dedicated, hard worker. We are saddened by his untimely death. Mamathuba was the editor of the Vhembe District Municipality’s official newsletter since his appointment in 2005.

He was admitted to the Tshilidzini Hospital with an undisclosed illness and was transferred to Medi-Clinic last week, where he suddenly died on Sunday.

He was born in Vhufuli village near Thohoyandou and started his primary education at Vhufuli Primary School. He attended Tshivhase Secondary School, where he matriculated in the early eighties. He completed his Public Relations Certificate with the University of South Africa in 2004 and, prior to his death, he was studying part-time with the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) where he was doing a course in communications.

He is survived by his wife and two children.