Running champ’s body found 3 months after fatal hit & run
Cape Town-25-10-2020 Messages of support have been pouring in after the body of one of Cape Town’s most promising runners - who went missing three months ago - was finally identified.Vuyolwethu Mbukushe from Lower Crossroads vanished on 24 July, the day that he was killed in a hit and run incident.pic from facebook
Messages of support have been pouring in after the body of one of Cape Town’s most promising runners - who went missing three months ago - was finally identified.
Vuyolwethu Mbukushe from Lower Crossroads vanished on 24 July, the day that he was killed in a hit and run incident.
The 29-year-old was training on the R300 when a car hit him and the driver sped off.
His family had been looking for him for months and were given the tragic news on Friday after they were asked by police to identify the now decomposed body.
“We are still shocked,” the deceased’s aunt Beauty Nohase tells the Daily Voice.
“We searched and searched until we gave up. He lived with his grandmother and it was unusual of him not to return home.”
Vuyolwethu won the National X Country Championship race held in Germiston in 2012.
He received his most recent gold medal at the Constantia Village KWay VOB 15km Road Race where he took first place in the men’s category.
Vuyolwethu was part of the Atlantic Athletic Club where he was named Athlete of the Year in 2019.
In a statement, the club said Vuyolwethu set the racing scene alight across the country.
“He will be remembered for his kindness, determination and gentle nature. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends, family and all who knew him,” the club said.
“Vuyolwethu was the AAC athlete of the year in 2019 and had set the racing scene alight at the local and provincial level for a number of years.”
Western Province Athletics President Jakes Jacob says a bright star has passed on: “The Western Province Athletics Community is deeply saddened by the news that Vuyolwethu Mbukushe, a top provincial athlete from Atlantic Athletic Club was tragically killed on the R300 on 24 July 2020.
“Vuyolwethu was reported missing and sadly his body was only identified by the family after the South African Police Services did an investigation and scrutiny of the details during this period.”
The family says they need assistance for his burial.
“He did not have a funeral policy and it is difficult,” says Beauty.
“We want to hold the funeral this coming weekend as his body is already in a bad condition.”
If you would like to help, please call 081 808 5055.