By Ntando Nsusha
Stern interventions from the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Sihle Zikalala, and the uMzumbe Local Municipality has resulted in the Mkhungo family finally being able bury their mother, Manase Mkhungo, in peace.
The family was forced to abandon the funeral on Saturday, 11 August, after being told by the local Induna to stop the proceedings as he had not granted them permission to bury their loved one on that particular plot of land in Ward 17, uMthwalume.
A video of the incident went viral on social media causing outrage and calls for local government to intervene on behalf of the Mkhungo family. In the series of videos that were posted on social media, the Induna can be seen and heard demanding that the family remove the casket carrying the body of the late matriarch from the gravesite because the Mkhungo land owner had yet to be officially introduced to the community.
This is a process which is done when a person purchases a piece of land under tribal authority. In a second video relating to the incident, the women of the family can seen struggling to carry the coffin away from the land while being berated by the Induna and his accomplices who demand that the women stop recording the incident.
According family spokesperson, Naledi Mkhungo: “The core issue that led to the disruption of my sister’s funeral in uMthwalume was an amount of R2430, crates of beer, cold-rinks and a bottle of alcohol which was due to Induna uMaluleka as a requirement of placement for a piece of land which was purchased by my sister’s son at Esiqunjeni in uMthwalume. My relative didn’t have the required fee and we had to call other leaders to speak with Induna Maluleka but they couldn’t reach agreement as he demanded what was due to him.”
She said they were told to leave the premises and to recover the area where they had dug up a gravesite to bury Manase. This incident led the family, to have return the body of their loved one to the mortuary in Durban.
“It was heartbreaking as we had to stop the funeral and brave ourselves in the heavy rain while carrying a coffin. The situation was inhumane and we didn’t really get assistance from the community since Induna Maluleka is highly respected,” said Mkhungo.
She added the family was relieved after the interventions taken by uMzumbe Local Municipality and MEC Zikalala to ensure that Manase has a dignified send off. “All the funeral costs and transportation of family members in Izotsha were covered by the municipality. Zikalala has promised to provide a home for my sisters children,” said Mkhungo.
Municipal spokesperson, Sabelo Ncwane said: “As the uMzumbe Local Municipality we were glad to assist the Mkhungo family during these extremely tough times and we do not condone such behaviour from our traditional leaders. The residents and respective chiefs must have a better working relationship so as to avoid such disturbing incidents.”
MEC Zikalala said the department will investigate the matter. “As government we will offer psychosocial support to the family for traumatic experience that they went through. There will also be a profiling of households in line with Operation Sukuma Sakhe so that the Department of Human Settlements can assist the family with an RDP house,” said Zikalala.
Manase Mkhungo was laid to rest on Thursday at the Izotsha Cemetery.
