TUT student found dead weeks after disappearance, family suspects foul play
The body of Oratile “Rati” Mothoa, a second-year journalism student at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), has been discovered six weeks after he was reported missing.
Mothoa vanished on March 7, 2025, after reportedly booking an e-hailing ride from the university’s Soshanguve campus. He never made it back to his student residence.
His body was found on the N4 freeway in Silverton, east of Pretoria, and later identified by his family at the Garankuwa Mortuary on March 22.
According to police, the scene where Mothoa was found appeared staged to resemble a hit-and-run. However, forensic evidence suggests he had been dead for some time before being placed on the road, pointing to possible murder. Authorities have yet to confirm any suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.