Singer trampled by hippo

2005-01-03 17:33

Johannesburg - A gospel singer who was trampled to death by a hippopotamus at Matshosing village in Limpopo is to be buried on Saturday.

The hippo was shot dead last Friday by a Department of Environmental Affairs official, Maruleng councillor Moshilo Popela said.

"The fear was it would go on and do more damage," Popela said, adding that it was the first time someone had been attacked by a hippo in the area.

Mosibudi Mahlo, 23, was walking with her friends on Wednesday night when she was attacked and trampled to death by the hippo.

Mahlo was a member of the Ga-Sekororo royal family and had released her first gospel album in November.

Curator of birds at the Johannesburg zoo, Mike Harman, said hippos sometimes attacked people if they came between them and their water.

General manager of the department of economic development, environment and tourism, Dr Shibu Rampedi, said once an animal was classified as "damage-causing", it was either relocated, or if that was not possible, shot.

- SAPA