Divers find Ngcawuzele's body

2007-01-05 10:52

Llewellyn Prince and Francois de Wet

Cape Town - Police divers recovered the body of the son of prominent Guguletu businessman Mzoli Ngcawuzele at the Strandfontein promenade on Thursday.

Unathi Ngcawuzele, 27, drowned on Tuesday morning when he went swimming with friends and apparently was washed out to sea by a strong current.

Shortly after his son's body was recovered from the sea, Ngcawuzele said it had been "a very simple closure".

"I want to thank the police for their dedication. The weather made their task a difficult one, but they did not give up," he said.

Divers retrieved body

"The provincial MEC for community safety, Leonard Ramatlakane, extended his support to my family, for which we thank him.

"One tries to remain positive even if the outcome is very bleak," said Ngcawuzele.

Ponko Masiba of the Ngcawuzele family said the body had been found about 300m from where he was thought to have drowned.

"A rescue helicopter spotted a shark in the area where he went under.

Unathi's body appeared on the surface of the water about 11:15 on Thursday and police were sent in to collect it.

Ngcawuzele said the family still were arranging the funeral.

- Die Burger