The late Patric “Gemo” Netshidzivhani. Photo: Archives.
The former “no-nonsense” Makhuvha Up The Ants defender, Mbulaheni Patrick “Gemo” Netshidzivhani, who worked as a traffic officer at the Mutale Traffic Centre, was hijacked and killed by armed robbers at Mutale on Sunday. His body was found on Tuesday night in the Khunguni mountains.
A spokesperson for the family and the brother of the deceased, Mr Mmbengeni Netshidzivhani, said Mbulaheni had parked his car near the Mutale Clinic on Sunday. He explained that his brother used to stop there every weekend to exercise on the road leading to Khunguni Village. Family members became concerned when they did not hear from him that day. “We don’t know whether he was attacked on the mountain or when he returned to his car,” he said. An extensive search was launched to find Netshidzivhani.
On Tuesday morning, a task team, including law-enforcement officers, was established to search the Khunguni mountain area. Shortly after midday, his car was found parked at Tshiulungoma Village near Thohoyandou. According to Mmbengeni, the car had been marked for sale with a price tag of R10,000. “People nearby said the men who parked the car told them they were going to buy petrol but never returned,” he said.
The suspects were arrested later that night and, after interrogation, they led the police to the Khunguni mountain, where they had dumped the body.
His childhood friend, Tshikhudo “Sputla” Makhuvha, who was also his teammate at Makhuvha Up The Ants, could not hold back tears when he learned of Netshidzivhani’s death. “Part of me is gone with him. We started school together and sat at the same desk from Grade 1 until Grade 12. We even trained as traffic officers together. I have lost a friend, a dear brother, and part of my life,” he said on Wednesday morning.
The communications manager for the SAPS in the Vhembe District, W/O Vuledzani Dathi, said the police had arrested four* suspects and expected to make further arrests. “Police investigations are ongoing,” he said.
(Initially two suspects were arrested, but on Wednesday afternoon it was announced that two more suspects were arrested.)
