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Likeable Petrus “Yeke” Ndlovu dies in car crash

Published by charl on May 31, 2009

LIKEABLE heavyweight rider Petrus “Yeke” Ndlovu (35),Â died in a car accident on his way home early on Sunday morning, 31 May.Â Ndlovu was the first black jockey to graduate from James Maree’s Academy for Work Riders in the early 2000s and from limited opportunities he rode with plenty of success for Maree, the late Buddy Maroun and Ormond Ferraris.

Ndlovu grew up and lived on Maree’s Eikenhof Training Establishment outside of Alberton. His mother and father worked for the Maree family for over 40 years and he was like a son to James, who took him under his wing early and taught him the skills of race riding. He was a strong rider and a good judge of pace, hard to beat in a finish.

Ndlovu rolled his car on the unlit sand road near the Eikenhof farm and Maree said: “It happened just after midnight. He must have broken his neck on impact because he was already cold when I got to him just a few minutes later.

“This comes at such a bad time,” added Maree. “I’ve been given several new horses to train and I’d given Yeke a new job, he was to help me on the farm again. He was a gentleman, an honourable man and a talent. We will miss him dearly.”

Ndlovu is survived by his wife and teenage son James, named after his boss.

Racingweb.co.za extends condolences to the Ndlovu and Maree families.