More than 4,000 mourners from Khubvi and the surrounding villages braved the icy weather on Saturday morning, 22 July, to pay their last respects to the two siblings who died three days apart, shortly after becoming seriously ill.
Rudzani Irene Netshiomvani Munzhelele (38) passed away on 13 July, while her younger brother, Ipfi Daswa, died on 16 July. They were buried next to each other at the Khubvi cemetery.
News of their passing shocked the residents of Khubvi village, and some could not hide their heartfelt pain during the emotional funeral ceremony.
The family spokesperson, Mr Shumani Netshiomvani, requested that no-one take pictures of the funeral proceedings and post them on social media. "As a family, we have accepted what has happened. We have done all we could from the beginning until today, as we now carry their remains to their last resting place," he said.
Both siblings were unemployed and were living in an RDP house with six other family members at the time of their passing.
One elderly resident, who spoke to Limpopo Mirror on condition of anonymity, said she was very disturbed by the community leaders who had refused to give the two siblings food parcels during the Covid-pandemic. "The government distributed food parcels for the poor, but as poor as they were, they were not given their share of this. But today, these same people are playing a pivotal role in their funeral. God is watching," she said.
Rudzani is survived by five kids, her mother, three brothers, and two sisters, while Ipfi is survived by his mother, two sisters, and three brothers.