A dramatic and emotional scene unfolded in Tshikuwi village in Nzhelele on Saturday, 23 May, when the late Mr Takalani Steven Marikhela was finally laid to rest after a week of chaos, confusion and bitter family feuding that shocked the community.
Mourners from Tshikuwi and surrounding villages flocked to Tshikuwi Block H for the funeral service of the 55-year-old former Siloam Hospital clerk, whose death sparked a fierce dispute between his family and estranged wife over who had the right to bury him.
The extraordinary saga saw the deceased effectively “buried” three times in one week.
First, in a symbolic act of frustration, the Marikhela family buried only the death certificate in a prepared grave at the local cemetery after delays in receiving the body.
Then came a second shock: the estranged wife allegedly went ahead and buried the body in secret with a small group, without informing the wider family or community. Furious residents later exhumed the remains, which were taken to a local mortuary under police guard.
Following urgent mediation at a police station last week, the warring families finally reached an agreement for a joint funeral on Saturday.
Among those addressing mourners was Murendeni Nndanduleni, popularly known as “Musanda Musanda”, who urged both families to put the drama behind them and focus on healing.
“What happened has already happened and cannot be changed. The important thing now is for both families to forgive one another, unite and allow peace to prevail,” he said.
Peace broker Richard Mukhaninga, known as “Musikitedzi”, also played a key role in calming tensions and helping to organise the joint funeral. He appealed for unity in times of grief.
“Funerals are meant to bring families together, not divide them. We must learn to sit down, talk and support one another during difficult times,” he said.
After the burial, community members gathered for a celebratory bash in honour of the deceased, marking the end of the highly publicised dispute.
The deceased’s elder brother, Muthuphei Albert Marikhela, said he was relieved that the ordeal had finally ended.
“We are very happy with how things ended. At long last, we buried our brother peacefully and with the dignity he deserved,” he said.
Although the estranged wife did not attend the funeral, members of her family were present, which Marikhela said signalled a possible end to the bitter feud between the two families.