Ntwagae's hit-and-run death still 'a mystery'

UNANSWERED questions surround Oscar Ntwagae's death as his family battles to come to terms with the tragedy.

Ntwagae died last Friday after he was reportedly knocked down by a vehicle in Germiston. His aunt Nkele Mashinini said the family will wait for the autopsy report to know the cause of his death.

"At the moment we are still in the dark about his death. We don't even know if he was hit by a car or a truck because nobody has come forward to take responsibility.

"We'd like to appeal to anyone who might have any information to come forward," Mashinini said.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars defender was married to 31-year-old Mathapelo Ntwagae, and the couple had a five- year-old son, Ofentse. Although visibly heartbroken, his wife said she will remain strong for their child.

"It has been very difficult for us. I last spoke to him on Friday when he called and asked me if I was home. He then told me that he was on his way, but as hours passed without any sign of him I started getting worried.

"I left the lights on thinking he would come but he never showed up. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't expect this," she said.

Ntwagae's brother Thabiso, 19, is the youngest of four boys in the family. Wearing his late brother's Platinum Stars jersey, the Grade 11 student at JE Malepe High School said he was trying his best to remain strong.

"It pains me that my brother is no longer here but I have to be strong for the family. We were very close, especially since our mother Dikeledi died last November.

"Losing him is not easy. He was very supportive of me and I will miss him dearly," he said.

Ntwagae will be buried on Saturday at the Brakpan Cemetery.