Delays could claim another family member

IT’S BEEN a taxing two years for a Durban family attempting to have the remains of their son, who was murdered in 2019 and given a pauper’s burial by the state, returned to them for reburial.

The dead man’s father is now gravely ill and the family fears the worst as his health continues to deteriorate. They believe burying his son would give him the closure and peace he needs.

Nhlakanipho Myeza, from Umlazi, disappeared in June 2019 and his family learned in November 2020 that he had been buried by the state in July that year. The 26-year-old was allegedly caught stealing from a taxi owner in Umlazi, assaulted and left for dead. Myeza later gave paramedics false identity details, which prevented police from telling his family of his death.

His corpse was kept at the Gale Street mortuary for a year before being buried; it was only four months later that police were able to identify him.

Myeza’s sister, Nelly Myeza, said police told them they would require a death certificate and R1 700 to perform an exhumation and a DNA test before his remains could be released to them. Home Affairs intervened in October last year and his death certificate was eventually generated.

But their hopes for a dignified funeral were quickly dashed again when the municipality advised the family that approvals for exhumations were only granted at least two years after interment.

But Msawakhe Mayisela, ethekwini spokesperson, said approval could be granted under special circumstances.