Body found in wreck at bottom of pass
The man who died after his vehicle left the road on the Outeniqua Pass last weekend was on his way home to his family in Cape Town after completing work in the Southern Cape.
Fane Setlogalo (41), who was employed as a network technologist for the Western Cape Government, apparently lost control of his vehicle during heavy downpours in the Outeniqua Pass on Friday 9 October. The bakkie he was travelling in, an official vehicle, crashed through the barrier on the pass and plummeted down the mountain. According to Southern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Chris Spies, Setlogalo was reported missing in Cape Town on Friday when he did not arrive at his place of work as expected.
"It is further alleged that he was last seen in George where he was on official business and driving an official vehicle," said Spies. "This vehicle was traced through a tracker device and located in the Outeniqua Pass. A search and rescue team was dispatched to the area, where the vehicle was found at the bottom of the mountain on Sunday afternoon, 11 October." Setlogalo's body was recovered from the wreck by Metro Rescue Services the same evening at approximately 18:20. The vehicle he was travelling in was recovered by J&B Towing Services the following day. The Director-General of the Western Cape Government, Dr Harry Malila, confirmed the circumstances of Setlogalo's death. "We can confirm that Fane Setlogalo, a Western Cape Government network technologist who was working in the Southern Cape, tragically died this weekend. We are deeply saddened by his passing and send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. We are also offering our support to his family during this very difficult time," he said. According to Setlogalo's mother, Kebitsamang Setlogalo, he grew up in a home where his parents believed that boys will always be boys. "My philosophy of raising children is to allow them to decide with minimum guidance were necessary. His school and career performance was above satisfactory. He was always a very assertive man - a bit more susceptible to bad influence, but eager to mend his ways. He was a people's person and a peaceloving individual. Rest in peace son of the soil. Namanyane ya tholo Morolong. Motho wa ga sejankabo o mphile bodila. Motshidi o montsho. Letemeku le le tsetsweng ke Nkhabele. Mokoto Benjamin Skoskara Setlogalo," his grieving mother said.
Setlogalo's sister, Thuto Setlogalo, spoke fondly of her brother and his wife. "After his first wife passed away in 2016 my brother married his high school sweetheart after they ran into each other last year. They've only been married since March this year. They were such a beautiful couple and extremely happy and in love," she said. He leaves behind his mother, father, Mokoto, brother Olihile and wife Nthabiseng.