News / Regional
Family feuds as body decomposes
16 Nov 2014 at 08:27hrs | Views
THE body of a Lupane man was last week left to rot while his widow and mother allegedly bickered over who was responsible for his burial.
The late Ndabenkulu Phakathi's wife Ms Sazini Nyoni and his mother Mrs Sehli Phakathi have allegedly never seen eye-to-eye, resulting in the fight over who was responsible for his burial.
Narrating the unpleasant situation, a resident who preferred anonymity, told Sunday News that Nyoni did not inform her mother-in-law of her son's death.
"What I can tell you is that this dispute between Mrs Phakathi and her daughter-in-law has been going on for a while. I understand that when Ndabenkulu was alive there was no good relationship between him and his mother, which made sour the relationship between his mother and wife. When Ndabenkulu died, his wife did not tell his mother of her son's death until she found out on her own. The mother of the deceased then swore that she will not bury her son and the body remained outside the homestead for three days with the families disagreeing over the burial," said the source.
Another source who attended the funeral said that the body was buried some days later after the families had sought advice from a local traditional healer.
"It was a very sad situation which was full of amazing encounters. The families decided to bury the body after a local sangoma was called to intervene because they had failed to dig the grave while there was still a misunderstanding", said the source.
Mr Mandla Phakathi, who is a brother to the deceased, said he was shocked to see his brother's body outside the homestead.
"Mina ngamangala kakhulu ukubona isidumbu sikamfowethu phandle kweguma (I was very shocked to see my brother's body outside the homestead)," said Mr Phakathi.
"I tried to ask some of the family members and they told me there was disagreement between the families."
The village head, Mr Vincent Nkomo, also confirmed the incident.
"I heard of the disagreement between the family and I am relieved that the body was eventually buried. I cannot say much except telling you that such a thing happened in this village," said Mr Nkomo.
The late Ndabenkulu Phakathi's wife Ms Sazini Nyoni and his mother Mrs Sehli Phakathi have allegedly never seen eye-to-eye, resulting in the fight over who was responsible for his burial.
Narrating the unpleasant situation, a resident who preferred anonymity, told Sunday News that Nyoni did not inform her mother-in-law of her son's death.
"What I can tell you is that this dispute between Mrs Phakathi and her daughter-in-law has been going on for a while. I understand that when Ndabenkulu was alive there was no good relationship between him and his mother, which made sour the relationship between his mother and wife. When Ndabenkulu died, his wife did not tell his mother of her son's death until she found out on her own. The mother of the deceased then swore that she will not bury her son and the body remained outside the homestead for three days with the families disagreeing over the burial," said the source.
Another source who attended the funeral said that the body was buried some days later after the families had sought advice from a local traditional healer.
"It was a very sad situation which was full of amazing encounters. The families decided to bury the body after a local sangoma was called to intervene because they had failed to dig the grave while there was still a misunderstanding", said the source.
Mr Mandla Phakathi, who is a brother to the deceased, said he was shocked to see his brother's body outside the homestead.
"Mina ngamangala kakhulu ukubona isidumbu sikamfowethu phandle kweguma (I was very shocked to see my brother's body outside the homestead)," said Mr Phakathi.
"I tried to ask some of the family members and they told me there was disagreement between the families."
The village head, Mr Vincent Nkomo, also confirmed the incident.
"I heard of the disagreement between the family and I am relieved that the body was eventually buried. I cannot say much except telling you that such a thing happened in this village," said Mr Nkomo.
Source - Sunday News
