‘When will our son rest in peace?’

It took three exhumations for a Mohlakeng family to finally find their loved one’s grave after his body was found in Riebeeck Lake in October last year.

He was buried as a pauper on December 17 last year. His grave eventually was found during the third exhumation on the morning of Friday November 12.

The broken family told of how they’ve had to relive their ordeal and trauma, and incurring unnecessary costs as they struggled to find Kgosietsile Selebogo’s grave because for months the Rand West City Local Municipality had failed to point them to his grave in the Rikasrus Cemetery.

Although Kgosietsile’s grave had been found, the family was anxiously waiting for the DNA test results after samples were taken from his mother Margaret, 59, and father Abram Selebogo, 63. During yet another interview with the Herald, the distraught father said they’ve lost count off the expenses they’ve had to cover; including for postponing the funeral in July, hiring tables and chairs, paying fuel and food costs. This also meant turning away relatives who had come from various parts of South Africa to properly lay Kgosietsile to rest.

“Not to mention the emotional distress we’ve suffered – my wife’s health deteriorated because of the stress and anxiety she endured, and my blood pressure has gone up,” the elderly man said.

He further explained that the undertaker who was in charge of the exhumation had to be paid on three occasions, including for the use of his equipment, workers and any additional costs.

The family feel that none of this would’ve happened if the police had informed them that their son’s body had been found. The blunders by the municipality made things worse.

The family blamed the police, saying that when Kgosietsile’s body was discovered on October 16 last year, they should’ve investigated if any person had been reported missing, which they claim they did.

“It was just a big mess. The municipality wasn’t even prepared to meet us halfway with the expenses, or show some kind of compassion, or even just admitting to their negligence.” Another worry from the family is that they’re waiting for the final bill from the undertaker for the second and third exhumation as they already had to pay R25 000 for the first one. They said after so many mistakes only the DNA results would give them closure – knowing that their loved one is finally resting in peace “… so that we can finally say this chapter has been closed; we’ve been traumatised enough,” Selebogo said.

According to the senior communications officer of RWCLM, Godfrey Moutloali, the municipality doesn’t have problems with marking and identifying graves. “While we always strive to improve our systems, our current systems are of an acceptable standard; we are continuously educating our people about our services and by-laws. Furthermore our offices are accessible for enquiries at all times,” Moutloali said.

The Herald has also approached Randfontein Police about how missing persons’ cases are handled, and what steps are to be taken when an unidentified body has been discovered. We are awaiting their response.