On Saturday 6 November 2021, Ndoyisile William Zakhe, a small-scale inland fisher from Norvalspont near Gariep dam, left his home to go and fish on the river and did not return. After a community-wide search he was later found dead.
Zakhe was 74 years old. The small town he was from is located in the Northern Cape province, just a few kilometers from Gariep Damn, situated near the Orange river. Inland small-scale fishers from this area fish on the Orange River for a source of income and food.
Ndoyisile had been a fisherman for 12 years.
He was a loving father and grandfather who enjoyed cooking and baking various fish dishes for his family. Baked fish was his favourite dish.
Additionally, he took great pride in his live stock and looked after it well until his last day.
The fisher was described as a “peoples person”, he loved his community and when he had an abundance of fish he was always willing to give fish away to those in need.
He leaves behind his wife and 6 children.
Rose Zakhe, daughter of the deceased inland fisher, expressed the family’s dissatisfaction with the South African Police Service of Gariep on the investigation around their father’s death. It was disclosed that her father died of natural causes however, they would like to further the case.
“Our heart is still broken because we lost the best father”, Rose Zakhe.