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DOCTOR KILLED IN ROBBERY

SHOT DEAD: Dr Fandzo Nyathi. Cicra 2008. Pic. Unknown.
SHOT DEAD: Dr Fandzo Nyathi. Cicra 2008. Pic. Unknown.

Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

A prominent medical practitioner, based in Namakgale, Limpopo Fandzo Risingulo Nyathi, was shot dead on on Saturdy night, his birthday.

Nyathi was fatally shot in the chest and died instantly during a robbery at his house at about 11.30pm.

The 49-year-old Nyathi was killed a few hours after his parents had visited him for a birthday toast at his home in Namakgale.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said Nyathi was with a friend who had visited him when he was attacked.

Ramatseba said the visitor was found with his hands and feet tied with ropes.

He said the gunmen had ransacked the house and fled with two laptops, a safe, two cellphones, a licensed firearm, a Mercedez Benz car, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Ramatseba said the deceased's car was later found abandoned at Tshwenyane village in Leboeng near Burgersfort.

No arrest had been made at the time of going to press.

Police are investigating charges of murder, house robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.

Nyathi was a former provincial chairperson of the Black Management Forum (BMF), and had contributed to its growth and recognition.

He qualified as a medical doctor at the University of Natal, Durban, in 1983, and obtained a post graduate degree at the Manchester School of Business in 2001.

Nyathi worked in many hospitals, including Sekororo, Shiluvane and Maphutha-Malatji, before opening the Namakgale surgery in 1994.

In 1996 he opened Khanyisa Clinic in JCI Mine in Gravelotte, which served as a health institution for miners, residents and people travelling between Phalaborwa and Tzaneen.

Family spokesperson Isaiah Nyathi said the family suspected foul play in the medic's death and that they have evidence to this effect, which has been brought to the police's attention.

Nyathi said the family has left everything in the hands of the police and hope that the law will take its course.

Nyathi is survived by his wife Bella and four daughters. He will be buried in White River on Wednesday.

His tragic death comes a month after businessman and president of the National Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) in Limpopo, Isaac Masekwameng, escaped death by a whisker in the same township after he was sprayed with a hail of bullets while asleep .

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