Top communicator Adv Alilwei Mushavhanamadi passes away

The untimely death of Adv Ailwei Mushavhanamadi came as a shock to his family, colleagues and the entire community of Vhembe.

According to his elder brother, Konanani, Mushavhanamadi died in a hotel room at the Holiday Inn in Millpark last Friday.

The spokesperson for the University of Venda, Takalani Dzaga, confirmed that Mushavhanamadi was in Johannesburg to attend a training session at Wits. "We are greatly saddened by his death. It is more painful when we consider that he seemed healthy when we were with him here at work. His death came as a shock. We are still depressed by his untimely death," says Dzaga.

At the time of going to press, the family was still waiting for the post mortem results to determine the cause of death. Neither the university nor his family suspects foul play.

Mushavhanamadi was born in 1960 at Ngovhela village as the third-born of Sarah and the late Robert Mushavhanamadi in a family of four children.

He started schooling at Ngovhela Primary and later went to Guvhukuvhu and Mphaphuli secondary schools. Before he reached matric, he left for Guateng where he worked as a guard. In 1984, he came back home and trained as a police officer with the then Venda Police.

He worked at the police band and was later appointed as the communication officer, with the rank of captain. He was later promoted to spokesperson for the Thohoyandou police station and then to head of communications for all police stations in Vhembe.

During that time, Mushavhanamadi managed to improve the image of the police through his morning slot with Phalaphala FM. During his broadcasts, Mushavhanamadi always encouraged the community to work hand in hand with the police to make the district safer. In 2003, the then Far North Media Association honoured Mushavhanamadi as the best communicator.

In  2010, Mushavhanamadi, who was then a qualified lawyer, joined the University of Venda as head of security, the position he was still occupying until his death. While at Univen, he continued with his studies and he received a master's degree in law from Univen.

He was last heard on Phalaphala FM on the afternoon of 14 August, a day before his death. He then gave an update on the improvements in security measures at Univen.

He will be buried tomorrow (Saturday), at Ngovhela. He is survives by his wife, Betty, and three children, two girls and one boy.

Date:22 August 2014

By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

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