Durban - The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife employee killed by a lion this week was a casualty of the drought gripping the province.
A post-mortem revealed that the lion had been so weakened by thirst, injury and illness that it was on the hunt for easy prey.
Vusi Kubeka, 49, died after an attack at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Park on Monday just metres from where he was stationed.
He and a colleague had gone out to start the engine of a pump feeding a purification plant supplying water to guests at the park’s camps, when he was attacked.
Kwazulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mike Mabuyakhulu said trenches for water access had been dug in the area, which had attracted the thirsty lion.
The park is among the most severely drought-stricken parts of the province.
Coupled with this, the lion was ill.
Ezemvelo chief executive, Dr David Mabunda, said a post-mortem had revealed that the lion had bovine tuberculosis.
It was also found that one of its hind legs was broken and a front leg fractured, making the lion lag far behind the pride and unable to hunt agile prey, said Mabunda.
“Predators like lions survive on their ability to hunt. If anything destabilises that, like illness or injury, humans can become easy targets.”
Mabuyakhulu said Kubeka’s death was not only a loss to his family, but to the Ezemvelo family. The MEC, Mabunda and Ezemvelo staff had gathered at their late colleague’s home in Ezimambeni, Mfolozi.
Read: KZN parks man killed by lioness
Mabuyakhulu said it was the first such incident in almost 40 years, but they would take precautions to ensure the safety of the staff and tourists.
Mabunda said like other conservation areas with dangerous animals around the world, they had standard operating procedures such as having armed personnel nearby.
“That is why there was a response within minutes and the lion was destroyed. But nothing is foolproof. This freak accident has prompted us to go back to the drawing board, check the procedure and close any gaps if there are any and up our game to find ways to ensure the safety and security of people.”
As a gesture of goodwill, Mabunda had offered to employ a member of the Kubeka family so as not to “interrupt the income stream” Kubeka – who had worked at Ezemvelo for 16 years – had provided.
He said Kubeka’s work partner was in hospital receiving therapy for the trauma he had suffered at witnessing the gruesome death of his colleague.
Kubeka’s father, Dingeni, 78, said he had been deeply disturbed by the sight of his son’s lifeless body next to that of the lion.
“I have no words for what I saw, that picture of my child will not leave my head,” he said.
He and his brother, Mbuso, 62, had been brought to the scene, about 1km from their home, by Ezemvelo employees.
Vusi’s wife, Thandeka Kubeka, 33, had joined them at the mortuary, to see for herself that her husband of just five years was really gone.
Her sister, Nikiwe Hlabisa, told the Daily News yesterday Thandeka had been stoic.
The lion bites had left gaping lacerations, mostly on Vusi’s neck.
“At about 2am she started crying loudly. I think that is when it hit her, she hasn’t stopped crying since,” Hlabisa said.
Hlabisa sat next to her sister on the “mourning mat” yesterday, with the couple’s 14-month old son, Asibonge, sleeping on Hlabisa’s lap.
Lwandile, 8, Vusi’s and Thandeka’s first-born, cried when her mother wailed from under a blanket as hymns were sung and words of condolence were relayed to the family.
“Who will raise my grandchildren?” asked Dingeni.
“They are too young to lose their father, it would have been better if I had died,” he said.
Dingeni will bury his son at the family homestead on Saturday.
Mabuyakhulu and Mabunda pledged to assist the family with preparations.
Daily News