Doctor found dead in submerged vehicle

By Teboho Moloi

QWAQWA – The family of a man whose body was discovered inside a submerged vehicle near Mandela Park, Qwaqwa, is reeling in shock following the mysterious death of their loved one on Sunday.

The deceased’s Ford Everest was first spotted partially submerged in a river by passers-by. It wasn’t long before the police’s water unit recovered the lifeless body of the man from the vehicle.

The victim was later identified by his wife as Dr Teboho Mathebula (50), a respected optometrist from Phuthaditjhaba, who had been working at Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital.

His wife, Tholiwe Mathebula, says she last saw him on Saturday when he mentioned he was going to his usual place to unwind. She later received distress calls from people who had seen his car submerged in a river. Her efforts to reach him were unsuccessful as his phone had also gone underwater.

“What confuses me is that the place where his car was found is not along the route he normally takes to our home. I still don’t understand what he was doing in that area,” she said.

She dismissed claims circulating on social media that her husband had taken his own life.

“When I arrived at the scene, I noticed skid marks, and it seemed like he may have lost control of the car. Parts of the vehicle were found at the top of the riverbank, suggesting he might have tried to regain control,” she added, pointing to the slippery road conditions caused by recent heavy rainfall.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened, and investigations are ongoing.