The body of successful South African businesswoman Thandeka Hlongwa, 40, was found on August 6 in her room at the fivestar The May Fair hotel in the exclusive suburb of Mayfair, a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park.
The chartered accountant, who was the director of 30 businesses ranging from financial consulting and investment firms to engineering and mining companies, was on a weekend side trip to the UK capital during a holiday in Europe.
Hlongwa had taken her children on a break during the private-school holidays. She left the children with friends in Germany when she travelled to London for the weekend.
But hotel staff found her body in her room that Saturday afternoon. And while London police do not suspect foul play, they referred the case to the coroner’s office for further investigation. The cause of her death remains a mystery.
Hlongwa came from a well-known KwaZulu-Natal family. Her sister, Linda Hlongwa, is a member of the provincial legislature, where she sits on the education portfolio committee. Her brother, Sifiso, is a prominent lawyer.
After their sister died, the family had to battle mounds of red tape to get Hlongwa’s body repatriated to South Africa for burial.
A source close to the family told the Sunday Times that because Hlongwa was so young, her age automatically triggered an investigation.
Her death was regarded as unusual even though no foul play was suspected.
“They withdrew blood and retained her heart for tests, and the results are still not out,” the source said. Her heart has still not been returned to the family.
Taz Bari, spokesperson for the West London coroner’s office, told the Sunday Times: “I can confirm that the coroner has opened an investigation into the death of Ms Thandeka Hlongwa. She passed away on August 6 at The May Fair hotel, Stratton Street, London. This is all the information that I am permitted to provide.”