A funeral at Mabona under the Mhlosheni precinct came to a dramatic halt midway through the service after a court order stopped the burial of Msizi Mathunjwa (22), a vocational student from Nhlangano who died after being struck by a Quantum minibus.
The funeral, held at his paternal homestead, had drawn mourners from across the region. While some attendees gathered under a large tent for the service, others waited by the gravesite where burial preparations were already complete.
Court Order Delivered Mid-Service
According to witnesses, the mood changed sharply when a man, accompanied by a police officer, approached the funeral director and handed over a court order. Moments later, the director quietly announced that the burial could not proceed due to “unforeseen circumstances,” instructing that the body be returned to the mortuary.
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The announcement came just after midnight, even though mourners had gathered as early as 9 p.m. The casket was later carried back to the hearse, which had been parked outside throughout the service.
Dispute Between Families
The disruption reportedly stemmed from a dispute between the deceased’s maternal and paternal families over burial rites and the final resting place. Mathunjwa, who grew up with his maternal relatives, was to be buried at his paternal home — a move opposed by his mother’s side.
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The disagreement had been brought before the local chief’s court at Ondiyaneni, but after no resolution, the matter escalated to the Nhlangano Magistrate’s Court, which issued the interim order. A deputy sheriff was on-site to enforce the ruling.
The court is now expected to deliberate on both families’ claims before determining where the young man will finally be laid to rest.
Maternal Family Objects to Burial
A maternal relative told this publication that the deceased’s mother objected to the burial at the paternal homestead, citing the father’s absence during the boy’s upbringing.
Although the father had reportedly paid lobola-related damages in the form of two cows, the maternal family insisted that he had “never played a role” in raising Mathunjwa.
Attempts to get comment from the paternal family were unsuccessful, but a woman who briefly answered questions confirmed that the funeral had been stopped, saying the matter was now “in the hands of their legal representative.”
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