Man dies from holiday hotel stress
2013-01-08 22:25
Johannesburg - A driving licence examiner died of a heart attack over the festive season when he arrived in Cape Town and found his hotel had been double-booked, eNews Channel Africa reported on Tuesday.
Joe Mthembu, 46, and three friends, had paid the Notel International Hotel in Camps Bay a R19 000 deposit for accommodation for themselves and their families over New Year.
When they arrived at Cape Town International Airport from Johannesburg they learnt that their rooms had been double-booked.
Mthembu had a heart attack after trying for about eight hours to make alternative arrangements.
He died in hospital with his wife and his child at his bedside, his brother-in-law Makhosini Nkosi told the broadcaster.
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said Mthembu, had worked as a driving licence examiner at the Langlaagte testing station for about nine years.
The hotel's director John Venter told eNCA the matter was his former accountant's fault.
"It basically boils down to that because it's not my responsibility to do bookings," he said in a telephone interview.
The former accountant said he had warned Venter months before about the problem.
Venter said the group's deposit would be refunded.
- SAPA
