Agreement Mkhari 
By Joyce Dube
From missing to resting in peace, the tragic story of Oratile Mothoa, a 21-year-old second-year journalism student at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), has shaken both the campus and his community. Oratile was last seen on 7 March 2025, just outside the TUT campus. According to his family, they had been expecting him home that weekend to drop off his laundry. Instead, their worst nightmare unfolded.
After six weeks of uncertainty and anguish, Oratile was found dead on 22 April 2025, lying along the N4 road near Silverton. His body was discovered by police and later taken to the George Mukhari mortuary. Although the scene initially appeared to be a hit-and-run, investigators have raised suspicions that the incident may have been staged. The positioning of the body suggested possible foul play — leading authorities to believe that Oratile may have been killed elsewhere and placed on the road.
Xolelwa Buthelezi, one of Oratile’s classmates, shared her grief: “I had hope that he would be found alive, because he was such a cool guy, full of ambition, full of life, and always disciplined. Now we are left in sorrow. The class won’t be the same without him. Rest in peace, classmate.”
Another student from campus expressed frustration and fear: “Oratile deserves justice. A person can’t just disappear for weeks and then be found dead without answers. Cases like this demand urgency. The police must ensure that justice is served. We’re scared, what if one of us is next?”
His family remains in disbelief. They had high hopes for his future and were looking forward to the milestones he was yet to reach. Their hearts are broken, left with wounds that cannot be healed or seen.
