Even though the remains of the murdered Fhatuwani Asnath Nguluvhe from Thohoyandou were returned on 14 June, after the long-awaited DNA results were finally released, the deceased woman has still not been laid to rest as her family and in-laws are now fighting over who has the right to bury her.
Fhatuwani (34) was murdered earlier this year by a man who pretended to be a taxi driver (e-hailer). On 6 March, she disappeared from Thavhani Mall after finishing work. Her decomposing body was only found on 22 March, along the R524 Punda Maria road, next to Maniini village, after the suspect had led the police to the gruesome site.
Her husband, Mr Hendrick Mabetha, told Limpopo Mirror that shortly after his wife's remains had been brought back, he had been contacted by the investigating officer, who had informed him about it. He said the two families had met on 19 June to discuss funeral arrangements, but he had been baffled when his in-laws had insisted on signing for the release of the body from the mortuary. According to Mabetha, he had been legally married to Fhatuwani under customary law as he had paid lobola in full. "I even have a letter from Thovhele Manenzhe that proves that I am married to her under customary law. So, my in-laws cannot sign for the release of the body and bury my wife in their own village. As her husband, I have all the rights to bury her in my village," he said.
Fhatuwani's brother, Livhuwani Munyai, however, denied Mabetha's claim that he was legally married to his sister. "Even though I don't want to air my family's issues publicly, let me state that Hendrick Mabetha did not pay the lobola in full. According to customary law, one is not legally married until one finishes paying the lobola, and I have proof that he still owes money for the bride price. I doubt that Thovhele Manenzhe gave him any letter."
Munyai said that knowing that his sister's body was still lying in the mortuary because of a disagreement between the two families was painful. Neither party knows when Fhatuwani will be buried.
Meanwhile, the suspect arrested for Fhatuwani's murder, Mashudu Bele, will appear in court again for a bail hearing on Monday, 10 July.