DURBAN - A man has been arrested in connection with the death of Independent Media staff member Bongumusa Prince Mavuso, 42, who was shot during a hijacking last Tuesday.
He was hijacked while transporting a religious group in Mpophomeni, Inanda. He was shot once in the abdomen. He died in hospital on Thursday. The family are still waiting for the release of his body from the state mortuary to make funeral arrangements.
His sister, Nonhlanhla Mavuso, said Mavuso was alone in the car and nobody saw what happened until he was on the floor screaming for help.
“Prince reached out to those he travelled with. They ran to him. He told them he had been shot and they took his car.”
He was in a critical condition. Paramedics arranged for him to be airlifted to Netcare St Anne’s in Pietermaritzburg.
“No one had to tell us how serious the situation was, the machines said it all. He was on a ventilator since leaving the theatre. We tried to talk to him, give him strength and telling him that he needed to wake up, we needed him,” Nonhlanhla said.
“The doctor said they needed to close his wounds but not immediately because he was still weak. We were afraid for him to return to theatre because he might not survive ... That was it, the end of my brother,” she said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said Mtshebheni police station is investigating a case of murder.
Mbele said a 24-year-old man was arrested by Inanda police for murder and carjacking. He appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He will make a second appearance in court this Monday.
Nonhlanhla said her brother was the eldest sibling in the family and was a jovial person.
“He always made us laugh. Sometimes our mother sent us outside because we were in a hilarious state. He loved church and loved spending time chatting and laughing with people. His friends said they loved his advice,” she said, fighting back tears.
Mavuso is mourned by his fiancée, three children aged 12, 7 and 5, and by his mother and two sisters.
He was paying lobola and planning to get married.
Mavuso began working at Independent Media in August 2007 as a printer’s mechanic.
He worked at Insights Publishing's engineering department for the past 14 years and was known for being trustworthy, respectful, loyal, humble, caring and a happy individual who was always prepared to go the extra mile unselfishly.
He deserves to be remembered for the major role he played in re-commissioning the Insights Publishing Johannesburg plant in 2017.
His absence has undoubtedly left a huge void within Insights Publishing. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.
Daily News