Former City Press Editor Mathata Tsedu’s son is found burnt beyond recognition in the boot of his car

Date: 7 Dec 2006
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The remains of Avhatakali Netshusaulu, accountant and son of the former City Press editor Mathata Tsedu, were found in the boot of his car after he had been burnt alive in a bush in Honeydew. An expert testified in court that the deceased had high levels of carbon monoxide in his blood which proves that he had been alive when he was burnt. It later came to light that Netshisaulu’s widow Mulalo Sivhidzo had hired two men, Ntambudzeni Matzhenene and Arnold Sello, to kidnap and murder her husband. In a trial that lasted two years, Sivhidzo and her two co-accused were found guilty of kidnapping, robbery and murder. It was revealed in court that the killers had followed Netshisaulu, forced him off the road, attacked and bundled him in the boot of his car and setting him alight. It was suspected that her motive might have been financial gain and her alleged mental disorders were thought to have played a role as well.

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How we know this

01Seale. L. (2011). ‘Widow only wed for money, court told’ From iol news [online]. Available at: www.iol.co.za [Accessed 12 November 2011]
02Mail&Guardian online (2011). ‘Netshisaulu widow, two men guilty of murder’ From Mail&Guardian online [online] Available at www.mg.co.za [Accessed 12 November 2011]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, November 23). Former City Press Editor Mathata Tsedu’s son is found burnt beyond recognition in the boot of his car . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070052

South African History Online (2011) 'Former City Press Editor Mathata Tsedu’s son is found burnt beyond recognition in the boot of his car ', South African History Online, 23 November. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070052 (Accessed: 24 September 2026).

South African History Online, Former City Press Editor Mathata Tsedu’s son is found burnt beyond recognition in the boot of his car [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070052, (accessed 24 September 2026).

"Former City Press Editor Mathata Tsedu’s son is found burnt beyond recognition in the boot of his car ." South African History Online, 23 Nov. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070052. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Former City Press Editor Mathata Tsedu’s son is found burnt beyond recognition in the boot of his car ." South African History Online. November 23, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070052.