Lwandile Sityatha, a former regional titlist at flyweight and IBO beltholder at junior bantamweight, passed away from injuries incurred after he was hit by a car, according to various local reports.

A close friend of Sityatha told South African news outlet Sowetan Live that Sityatha was struck by a car in the city of Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape and rushed to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Friday.  

Sityatha was 34.

Born on December 2nd, 1988, Sityatha made his professional debut on April 15th, 2007. He won the South African flyweight title with a decision over Thembelani Maho in 2012. In 2014, he outpointed Edrin Dapudong to win the IBO junior bantamweight belt.

After defending the belt successfully against Gideon Buthelezi and Michael Dasmarinas, Sityatha added to his wares, in December 2015, with a points win over Ernest Saulong to collect a secondary WBO bantamweight belt. Sityatha fought his last fight in 2020, a unanimous decision loss to Ronald Malindi in East London.

Nicknamed “The Angel”, Sityatha finished his career with a record of 24 wins (7 KOs) against 4 losses and 1 draw.

Sityatha’s death marks at least the sixth South African fighter to die this year.

In October, fellow junior bantamweight regional titlist Simphiwe Pamana also passed away after being hit by a car in an apparent hit-and-run. His body was identified at a morgue in East London.

In August, flyweight contender Monelisi Myekeni died of cancer.   

Most notably, in June, 24-year-old South African lightweight Simiso Buthelezi died tragically from a brain bleed after participating in a fight in Durban that went viral. Soon after knocking down his opponent, Buthelezi began to act bizarrely, throwing punches at a corner post. The referee stopped the fight and Buthelezi was rushed to the hospital and placed in an induced coma.

In February, former lightweight contender Zolani Marali was found dead in his apartment in Johannesburg, eliciting suspicions of foul play. 

Theunis Kok, a popular, all-action light heavyweight fighter from the late 1970s and 1980s, reportedly passed away last month at the age of 65.