Two Boksburg children lost in fire and their pregnant mother to be laid to rest in KZN
The eight-year-old brother who managed to escape but sustained severe burns is still in Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The 30-year-old mother from Ramaphosa informal settlement who apparently electrocuted herself after her two children burnt to death in a shack on August 22 was about three months pregnant.
This was revealed by a family member, Petros Ngidi, on September 2 when the family “fetched the spirits of the deceased”.
During the brief ritual, the uncle of the deceased held three lit candles while talking to the trio’s spirits.
The mother’s body and her deceased children, Akhona (two) and Angie (6), were in separate body bags at the ritual and were then transported to Pietermaritzburg, where they were buried on September 3 at the mother’s family home.
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The family is still shattered by the tragic events but thanked community members for the love they’ve shown to them.
When the van carrying the three bodies and two family members was about to leave, Zolani Dumaphi, Akhona’s father, arrived and when he requested to see her body he was denied.
The distraught father told the Advertiser he was at the neighbour’s house from early morning until 2pm, but because there was a delay at the mortuary he left but asked that someone phone him when the body arrived.
He was denied permission to see his child’s body because the family had apparently finished speaking to the spirits of the deceased and closed the van’s door.
“I was told that door shouldn’t be opened until they reach Pietermaritzburg, based on their culture. I am so sad that the family denied me permission to see my child. The fact that I won’t be at her funeral or see her for the last time breaks my heart,” Dumaphi said.
Help
MMC for Community Services councillor Dora Mlambo, who also attended the ceremony, said acting councillor for Ward 42 Paulina Bodiba told her about the family’s situation of not having money to bury the mother and children, so she decided to assist.
“Fortunately, Pyramid Funeral Parlour in Boksburg North, volunteered to bury them. Another funeral parlour, from Pietermaritzburg, also wanted to assist so the Pyramid Funeral Parlour will transport the bodies to KZN and from there Sibiya Funeral Parlour will take over by providing caskets and all basic needs for the funeral,” she said.
Mlambo said MPL Dolly Ledwaba assisted in tracking down the family in Pietermaritzburg by using the information from the documents and pictures the neighbours found after the shack fire.
Bodiba thanked the community for welcoming and taking care of the family when they arrived on August 27.
“We also thank Ledwaba for taking the initiative to track down the family,” she said.
The eight-year-old brother who managed to escape but sustained severe burns is still in Tambo Memorial Hospital. The Advertiser was unable to ascertain his condition.
CEO Zenzo Oscar said he couldn’t comment on the health of the child but confirmed he was admitted to hospital with severe burns.
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