A Braelyn mother allegedly faked the death of her 12-year-old son, leaving her family worried about her mental state.
This came to light when scores of mourners, who arrived for the child’s funeral in Braelyn on Saturday, discovered later that day that he was alive and well.
The names of the child, who has lived with his paternal grandmother in Amalinda for two years, and his mother, cannot be revealed to protect the child.
The mother, 31, told her family that her son had died over the weekend of August 23 and a funeral service would take place the following weekend.
This is according to the mother’s aunt who agreed to speak to the Dispatch by phone in the presence of the mother, who was too emotional to talk.
The aunt said they informed the community of the boy’s supposed death, and spent the week preparing for his funeral.
“People came in here to [extend] their condolences. We painted the house, bought groceries and she bought new clothes for the funeral. A lot of people donated money and other items as well.
“She kept crying whenever we asked how he died. We assisted with everything needed. Only after we went to the funeral parlour to ask about the child’s body did things start becoming sketchy.”
The East London funeral parlour told the family they did not have the boy’s body.
“The parlour said they didn’t have any records of the boy, and they even called their Mthatha office.
“There was an argument and we ended up leaving.
“The mother insisted the service would happen and said she was waiting for her insurance payout. I refused this because there’s no way we could hold a funeral without the body.
“On Friday, we prepared food and funeral arrangements.
“Then on Saturday, she told us she received a call from the child’s paternal family claiming that they had already buried him.
“Obviously, we were outraged by this and I said she should take us to the family. She then took us to the wrong house multiple times.”
They eventually managed to get an address and a group of residents converged on the paternal family’s home to confront them about “holding up the funeral proceedings”.
The child’s paternal grandmother said she had been shocked to find an angry mob at her home.
“I was with the child and I was meant to go to a different funeral. I could see there were many cars passing in the neighbourhood but I didn’t know what was going on.
“Suddenly, I heard a group of people shouting at the gate, calling me names and claiming I was withholding the child’s body.
“I realised they were angry and trying to get inside the yard and banging the gate.
“I went out again because I was frightened and asked them what they wanted. They said I should release the body, and I told them the boy is alive and with me.
“When I took him with me, everyone was shocked — as if they were seeing a dead person.
“The child was also traumatised. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t locked the gate and if he was not here. They would never have believed me.”
She said the child has refused to attend school ever since.
The grandmother said they visited the police station to open a case but were told they should rather speak to a social worker.
Referring to the mental state of the boy’s mom, the grandmother said: “We don’t know her motive. I just hope that my child does not have a death certificate. ”
The mother’s family said they were embarrassed.
The aunt said: “I have tried to speak to her but she refuses to say anything. People came to take back their food and other gifts. She has brought shame to our family.”
A community member who went to attend the funeral service, but asked not to be named, said they had not suspected anything.
“I saw from her WhatsApp status that she had lost her son. I thought I should show my support and offer condolences.
“We helped with peeling vegetables and everything. I was really shocked that she could do this.”
Children’s rights activist and Khula Community Development director Petrus Majola, who visited the family on Sunday, said the incident was “very confusing”.
“If a certificate was issued, we would have a hell of a job to reincarnate the child. In this case, I’m still trying to figure out what the mother was trying to do.
“What we did was look at the boy’s mental wellbeing. We’ll ask the department of education to assist with social workers so that this doesn’t affect his studies.
“The mother, in my observations, does not look well, so I’m worried about her access to the child.
“That needs to be assessed.”
Daily Dispatch
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