Family’s fury over ‘search’ for lost hubby

Search for body called off after 10 days of heartbreak for newlywed

IDYLLIC: Vhutshilo Malivhoho and her husband, Livhuwani, were a radiant couple SPRING tides are probably what took 29year-old newlywed Livhuwani Malivhoho’s life — but his devastated widow and family may never know the exact details of how a simple midday stroll on the beach ended in tragedy.

The search for the body of the Limpopo honeymooner — who disappeared 10 days ago while walking with his bride in the waves of Zavora Beach near the remote, idyllic village of Inhambane, north of Maputo, Mozambique — had been called off by last night. The family were on their way back to South Africa.

Newlyweds Livhuwani Malivhoho and his wife Vhutshilo were on Zavora Beach when Malivhoho disappeared.

Christa Boxham, manager of the resort where the Malivhohos were based when holidaying, said the search has been called off and the family have gone back home to South Africa without the body of their loved one.

“I am in constant contact with the family via telephone, SMS and WhatsApp. The case will remain open for another 12 months,” said Boxham.

The family, who were in transit last night, could not be reached.

Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha’s spokesman, Kenny Mathivha, told the Sunday Times last night that the provincial government had sent its own team to assist with the search. He was not aware that the search had been called off by the Mozambican authorities.

“All I can say is that we are assisting the family with all that we can, there is counselling that has been arranged. There has been a team that has moved to Mozambique to join the search and assist the local authorities there.

“They left with some family members a couple of days ago, and we are hoping for a breakthrough,” said Mathivha.

The Malivhohos tied the knot on July 30 before jetting off a few days later to enjoy their honeymoon in Mozambique, where tragedy struck. Vhutshilo, 26, took her eyes off Malivhoho for a few minutes and when she looked towards the water her husband was no longer there.

Vhutshilo claimed Mozambican maritime authorities have done nothing to help find her husband’s body.

Mulalo Tshikalange, his cousin, said no one from that country’s maritime search-and-rescue unit had contacted the family.

“Since Saturday, the hotel and the family have been hiring untrained divers from the streets to help search in the water and we have exhausted our wallet. These are divers who are fishermen, they do not have equipment at all for this situation,” he said.

“The Mozambican authorities claim they were helping but nobody saw them, and they didn’t even ask Vhutshilo for the spot where Livhuwani was last seen. They claim they have sent professional divers, but we don’t believe that is true.

“It was only this week, when the South African high commissioner sent two divers to assist us, that we received any professional help,” said Maanda Tshikalange, Vhutshilo’s brother.

Department of International Relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said a request had been sent by high commissioner Mandisi Mpahlwa to the director of Mozambique’s ministry of foreign affairs, requesting a written report explaining what had happened.

Mulalo said: ‘‘Livhuwani’s parents are going through a rough time . . .”

They remained hopeful the body would be recovered.

A report by Mpahlwa to International Relations Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers said local police insisted they had searched until 7pm on the day of the disappearance. Two days later, on Saturday, Vhutshilo was told police were waiting for professional divers.

But by Tuesday, no assistance had arrived, Mpahlwa wrote.

National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said he was in daily contact with the family. “It’s difficult to explain what could have happened. But when he went missing it was during the spring tides, when high tide is higher than usual.”

Lambinon said a body usually surfaced after three or four days. “But sometimes you never recover a body — even in a first-class city with all the best resources. It’s heartbreaking . . .”

Sometimes you never recover a body— even in a first-class city with all the best resources