THE FAMILY of renowned Venda academic Professor Victor Ralushai is saddened by his passing after he suffered a stroke last week.

Ralushai's death comes just days after the family buried his elder sister Vho-Tshinakaho Mashamba.

Ralushai was admitted to the Tshilidzini Hospital after suffering a stroke on Wednesday. He was 76.

"We are sad because last Saturday we buried his elder sister, Vho-Tshinakaho Mashamba.

"As the last born in the family this death obviously affected him," family spokesman Dickson Ralushai said yesterday.

Executive mayor of Vhembe district municipality Florence Dzhombere sent her condolences to the family.

Dzhombere said Ralushai's death was "a big loss to the people of Vhembe district and South Africa as a whole".

"We have lost an extraordinary giant who made an important contribution to education, tradition and the economy."

Ralushai, who published more than 20 academic publications, was also a member of the National Development Agency.

He also taught at the universities of Botswana and Swaziland, and at Jos University in Nigeria.

Ralushai was recently appointed Professor Emeritus by the University of Venda.