The fourth man who was involved in a light aircraft crash near eMalahleni passed away earlier this week.

Octorian Keitsheng Mashilane (40) died on Tuesday.

He was the only survivor of the tragic aircraft crash that killed three young cadets from Kishigu Aviation Group on Sunday, April 21.

Mashilane was admitted to Witbank Provincial Hospital and spent five days in casualty before being transferred to ICU.

The aspiring cadet pilot suffered severe burn wounds after the light aircraft burst into flames.

AIID launches investigation into the light aircraft crash outside eMalahleni
Read more here: https://t.co/5d07VMykrl @CivilAviationSA #aircraft #crash #Witbank #aviation #AIID

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) April 22, 2024

During an exclusive interview with Witbank News today, Mashilane’s brother Topic Mashilane was still traumatised and said he does not have much to say other than that his brother’s passing deeply saddens him.

“He was our last hope. We prayed and had hoped for his recovery,” Topic cried.

He also shared that his brother will be laid to rest on Saturday, at his homestead in the Matibidi Rural Village in Dinakaneng.

Ronny Nkambule, the grandfather of Themba Maibela, informed Witbank News that today is the commemoration service for Maibela and one of the other cadets.

“Saturday is their burial, separately but in the same village,” Nkambule said.