Staffer killed by hippo at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife says it is providing support to the family of a staff member who was mauled to death by a hippo at a nature reserve in northern KZN.
It says Sphamandla Mthembu and three colleagues went on foot patrol in Mkuze Game Reserve on Sunday.
The group is said to have split up into pairs.
Gun shots were later heard from the direction Mthembu and the second patroller had gone in.
Ezemvelo says when the others went to investigate, they found a hippo attacking Mthembu.
"Mthembu’s colleague started shooting at the hippo until it died, Mthembu was still alive when the hippo died and managed to speak to his colleague before he sadly succumbed to his injuries and finding the words to say to the family was more difficult,” says the entity's Musa Mntambo.
Mthembu had recently lost his child and this unfortunate incident happened. Mkhize sent condolences to his partner, remaining child and the Mthembu family. The family is hoping that the funeral will he hedl on Saturday."
