The community of Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State has been left stunned after the tragic and mysterious death of a well-known local doctor, Dr Tebogo Surprice Mathebula. His lifeless body was discovered inside his Ford Everest SUV, submerged in the flooded Kgopjane River on Sunday, 6 April.
Dr Mathebula, an optometrist at Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital, had left home the previous evening, reportedly to have drinks with friends. He never returned. His wife, Tholiwe Mathebula, was alerted to the tragedy after friends saw photos of the vehicle circulating on social media and called her with their concerns.
“I went to the police station to get help. While there, I overheard police radio communication about a car in the river. When they read out the number plate, I knew it was him,” Tholiwe said, recounting the horrifying moment she learned of her husband’s death.
Overwhelmed with grief, Tholiwe rushed to the scene, hoping for a miracle, but it was already too late. Her husband’s body was recovered while still inside the vehicle. The emotional blow has been compounded by the couple’s young son, who keeps asking difficult questions about his father’s sudden and tragic death.
“It’s painful to know I’ll be raising our children without him. Our son keeps asking why his father died like that, and I have no words,” she said, visibly shaken.
While the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, preliminary observations suggest that the SUV may have lost control due to poor road conditions worsened by heavy rains. The road in question runs dangerously close to the riverbank.
“There was heavy rainfall in the area, and it’s possible the vehicle skidded into the river. But there are some strange things we noticed,” said Tholiwe. She added that the car’s windscreen was damaged, the spare wheel was missing, the battery had been removed, and a strange cellphone was found inside the SUV.
The recovery was conducted by Sergeant Moleko Mabe, a police diver, alongside Mpho Khubeka from the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality. Authorities are now investigating the incident, with an inquest case opened at Phuthaditjhaba Police Station. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring confirmed that a postmortem will be conducted to determine the official cause of death.
The shocking loss has sent waves through the local medical community and beyond. Known for his kindness and dedication, Dr Mathebula leaves behind a grieving wife and three children. His funeral will be held on Saturday, 12 April, at his birthplace in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
As the investigation continues, the community hopes for answers that might bring some form of closure to this heartbreaking and puzzling tragedy.
