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Name, age delay ‘Samukeliso Sithole’ burial

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THE burial of the murdered transgender athlete, Samukeliso Sithole, also known as Mduduzi Sibanda, has been delayed, as confusion over his name reign

THE burial of the murdered transgender athlete, Samukeliso Sithole, also known as Mduduzi Sibanda, has been delayed, as confusion over his name reigns complicating processing of his burial order.

PRIVILEGE SHOKO/ NQOBANI NDLOVU

“We are still sorting the identity particulars for Mduduzi, but his burial will take place at our rural home in Lower Gweru,” a family member who declined to be named said.

He said the delay was caused by the late athlete’s use of different names, with some documents identifying him as Samukeliso Sithole, yet his real name was Mduduzi Sibanda.

Some documents indicated that he was aged 41, while others showed he was 33 years old.

Sithole, born Mduduzi Sibanda, was a multi-talented sports person who competed in international events as a female in disciplines such as triple jump, shot putt, netball and athletics where he scooped gold and silver medals.

Sithole was on Wednesday stabbed by his younger brother Kelvin allegedly in a dispute over a wardrobe inherited from their late parents.

His life of deceit started at Ndamathuli Secondary School in Silobela in early 2004 when some teachers at the school fraudulently acquired a birth certificate belonging to Samukeliso Sithole, a Form Four pupil at the school for him to use at competitions.

He was arrested and spent time in prison.

After being exposed as a fraud, he went underground and only re-emerged in 2010 as a boxer.

The Zimbabwe Amateur Boxing Association barred him from competitive boxing after he resurfaced in Chiredzi, where he had become an instant female hero.

His younger brother, Kelvin, was reportedly arrested at Sibamba Sports Bar in Sizinda on Friday by Tshabalala police officers as he was playing pool with his friend.