The intervention of North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise has ensured that a Coligny Priest and his daughter whose remains were found buried inside their home are reburied with dignity. A funeral service for the pair is to be held at Tlhabologang Sports Ground on Saturday.
On the instruction of Premier Modise, her office is assisting the family with funeral arrangements and meeting costs of the funeral.
In appealing to the Tlhabologang community to support the family for it to put closure to the dreadful ordeal that they had experienced, Premier Modise says that her administration was moved by compassion because everyone deserves a decent funeral irrespective of their poverty.
Modise urges families who are unable to bury their loved ones to approach their local municipalities and or social workers for assistance instead of opting for unlawful burials that might call to question their motives.
The badly decomposed body of Elias Maretlwa, 61 and a skeleton believed to be that of his daughter Leki, 23, were discovered by police buried in a shallow grave in the bedroom of their house two weeks ago.
Family members have accused the pastor’s wife, Bertha Maretlwa now in police custody pending trial for being responsible for the pair’s deaths.
The National Independent Congregation Church Priest was reported missing in December, while his daughter had been reported missing in 2009.
According to the family the priest’s wife allegedly told them that her husband and daughter where in Botswana to train as traditional healers.
The pair was supposed to return on June 16, when the family, church members and friends were to throw a big welcome ceremony.
The wife allegedly succumbed to pressure and revealed the whereabouts of their bodies after family members questioned her when the pair failed to appear on the said date. She reportedly confessed that she had buried them inside the house often used for church services as she was poor and could not afford funerals.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 0866204802
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
NW Premier Modise intervenes for dignified funeral for Coligny Pair
Province
