Boxer who fought late Buthelezi becomes suicidal

Siphesihle Mntungwa says the stress caused by the death of his boxing match opponent Simiso Buthelezi on Tuesday in Durban has had him contemplating suicide.

Buthelezi passed in a hospital two days after he suffered head injuries in the 10th and last round of the bout against Mntungwa on Sunday.

“I came under heavy criticism and insults on social media platforms when Simiso was hospitalised; it has taken another level now that he has passed away," Mntungwa said.

"I just can’t take it anymore. One thing is left for me – I am going to kill myself,” said the 27-year-old fighter from KwaXimba, Cato Ridge, near Pietermaritzburg.

“Even my neighbours have posted very ugly messages about me on social media. I am no longer safe. I did not kill Simiso; we may have been involved in a boxing fight but it was not a matter of life and death.

“All I wanted was to win the title, which maybe was going to help change my life and that of my family. I am the only one working at home, where I stay with my young brother, my aunt and her children.

“My mother died when I was four; my father is still alive but we don’t stay with him. So, winning that title was going to help me financially. But people have branded me a killer. It could have been me.” 

He added: “Without doubt Simiso’s family is going through pain like any other family. Simiso has just graduated [with a degree in botany and zoology]. Who knows his family may have even sold their cows to make sure he finished his studies. It is sad and very painful, but I did not go in that boxing with an intention to kill him.”

Trainer Mmeli Mkhize promised to seek professional help for Mntungwa.

“He is under pressure from social media messages. People have their own beliefs such as claims that we used umuthi and that is untrue. We will not even be able to attend the funeral because we are scared.”

Mkhize says the postmortem examination will set them free from any wrongdoing.