Limpopo couple is now at leave after they finally laid their son to rest after a two year hiatus.

94-year-old Petros Kekae expressed his pain of not being able to bury his son for two years as he could not afford the R1000 that the Dikgokgopeng village cemetery had charged him for burial.

The village is located in Mokopane in Limpopo.

The trouble began a few years ago when Kekae refused to contribute the annual R100 fee each family has to pay to the grave diggers fraternity commonly known as “Diphiri” (the hyenas). Kekae and his wife Desia were left with no choice but to bury their 60year-old son in the yard, next to their outside toilet.

Kekae said the lengthy process of trying to get the body exhumed for proper burial added to the family’s heartbreak over losing Lesiba.

“It was a burden. Every time I faced that direction in the yard, I would have to face my son’s grave. The [fear] of dying before giving Lesiba a proper funeral broke my heart,” Kekae said.

He recalled the day he was barred from using the community cemetery by members of Diphiri who chased them away.

“It was chaos and they were mocking us. I will never forget that painful day. Today I am happy that I can finally bury my son next to other family members.”

The family had initially tried to report their case to the police but did not get help. Community member Meriam Moteagone, said they then involved the Bakenberg Traditional Authority to assist and the lengthy process to apply for exhumation was started.

 

On Wednesday afternoon Kekae and his wife walked up to their son’s grave in the yard to perform a ritual and inform Lesiba’s spirit that he would be moved to the cemetery.

“I told him that he should not be surprised when we move him to his new home where he will rest next to his relatives and where I would join him when my time comes,” Kekae added.

With a black shawl wrapped about her petite frame, Desia also expressed relief at seeing the end to their suffering.