Phuthaditjhaba – The Free State community is in mourning following the tragic death of Dr Tebogo Surprice Mathebula, a well-known optometrist at Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in Phuthaditjhaba. Dr Mathebula's body was recovered from his Ford Everest inside the flooded Kgopjane River on Sunday, 6 April, leaving behind a grieving wife and three children.
Dr Mathebula was formally identified by his wife, Tholiwe Mathebula, at the government mortuary. According to Tholiwe, her husband had left home on Saturday, 5 April, to spend the evening with friends and never returned.
The circumstances surrounding Dr Mathebula's death remain unclear, but police have opened an inquest case and are awaiting the results of a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Tholiwe Mathebula recounted the harrowing experience of learning about the tragedy. "I received calls from friends who had seen my husband's vehicle on social media in a river," she told Daily Sun.
Desperate for answers, Tholiwe went to the police station to seek assistance. "I learned through the police two-way radio when a cop at the crime scene reported a number plate to the commander on charge," she said, her worst fears confirmed as she overheard the communication.
Sergeant Moleko Mabe, a police diver, and Mpho Khubeka, a diver from the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality, retrieved Dr Mathebula's body from the submerged vehicle.
The discovery of the "strange cellphone" has added another layer of mystery to the tragedy.
Tholiwe expressed her devastation and shock over her husband's death. "I have already been feeling lonely. He normally went out with his friends during the weekends. I would have been even more pained if he was classified as unknown," she said.
The loss is particularly difficult for their young son, who is struggling to understand his father's sudden and violent death. "I went to the crime scene, trying to revive him, but it was too late. I'm grappling with the emotional aftermath, especially considering our son who keeps questioning about his father's tragic and horrible death," Tholiwe shared, her voice filled with grief.
Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring confirmed that an inquest case has been registered at the Phuthaditjhaba police station. "An inquest case is under investigation. We are also waiting for postmortem report that will determine the cause of death," he said.
The investigation will focus on determining whether the heavy rainfall contributed to Dr Mathebula losing control of his vehicle on a road described as "awkward" and very close to the river. The damaged windscreen, missing spare wheel and battery, and the presence of an unidentified cellphone will all be examined as part of the inquest.
Dr Mathebula's untimely death has left a void in the lives of his wife, Tholiwe, their three children, and the community he served as an optometrist. He will be laid to rest at his birth home in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, on Saturday, 12 April, where family and friends will gather to pay their final respects. The nation is urged to support the Mathebula family during this incredibly difficult time.
