Last Saturday, the boxing world was shook by the news of the death of African legend Peter Mathebula. And now, on Thursday, his wife Emma died as well.
Mathebula, the first black South African to win a world boxing title, died at the age of 67 following an illness.
In 1976, he won South Africa’s national flyweight title. Four years later, he made history by defeating South Korean Tae-Shik Kim in Los Angeles, California, to become the World Boxing Association (WBA) World Flyweight Champion.
With the Mathebula family still in mourning over his death, spokesperson Shane Dladla has revealed that his wife also died after collapsing Thursday morning.
“Yes, we can confirm earlier this morning, Mama Emma Mathebula passed on,” Dladla said. “Basically, she suddenly fell ill in the morning and she was later certified dead.”
Mathebula’s memorial service was due to take place on Thursday but has now been rearranged for the family to have a double funeral for the couple, Dladla confirms.
“The memorial service was due to be held later this afternoon, now this means that service has been postponed to Sunday afternoon. The funeral has now been postponed to next week Tuesday.”
–ewn.co.za
