Assistance offered to Hluhluwe lion attack victim's family
The family of Vusimuzi Kubeka who was mauled to death by a sickly lioness say they're grateful for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's offer to employ a relative at the Park.
Ezemvelo CEO David Mabunda made the offer while visiting the family in Ezimambini in iMfolozi together with Environmental Affairs MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu yesterday.
Kubeka died on Monday after a lioness that was no longer able to hunt properly targeted the 45-year-old employee who'd been working on a water pump. Kubeka leaves behind his 33-year-old wife and two young children aged 14 months and eight-years-old.
His father, 78-year-old Dingini Kubeka says after being told about the incident, members from Ezemvelo came to fetch him and his family to take them to the scene.
He says he cannot get that picture out of his head.
"I am heart sore, I cannot even eat. I am struggling to get that image out of my head of my son with the lion lying next to him. It is a painful image. I don't know how I will ever forget that," he said.
Meanwhile, KZN Environmental Affairs MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu says while the lion was sick with tuberculosis, the drought affecting the area also played a part.
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"Because of the drought, you now have limited areas where sources of water are found and predatory animals such lions would know that because it then becomes their hunting ground. Unfortunately, in this case, the lion met with someone who is our staff that was working there," he said.
(Photo: Khatija Nxedlana)