Bisinessman and philanthropist, Reverend Gugulethu Mkhatshane, has helped the bereaved and destitute Sibotoboto family give their loved one a dignified send off, by donating a coffin, tent, and chairs for the day of the funeral, as well as keeping the body of the deceased at his mortuary free of charge.
The Sibotoboto family, of Corana village in Libode, is mourning the loss of Sange Sibotoboto (10), who died after having epileptic seizures at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital on November 26.
The family, a child-headed family of four daughters and one son, depends on child grants to survive and had no funeral insurance for the deceased.
Corana-born Mkhatshane, who owns Mkhatshane Funeral Services, was alerted to the plight of the family by Nyandeni Local Municipality Ward 12 Councillor, Nobuntu Nonkonyane.
“I received a call from the ward councillor of this area telling me about the plight of the family and their struggle to give their loved one a dignified funeral.
“I was moved by the situation of the family and immediately decided to take the body of the deceased from the government mortuary to my mortuary and further cover all the expenses to ensure a dignified funeral for the deceased,” Mkhatshane said.
Sibotoboto family neighbour, Sivuyile Mgweshe, thanked Mkhatshane for having come to the rescue of the family.
“I wish to thank Mkhatshane for the noble gesture, as the family really had no idea how they were going to bury the deceased and I am really lost for words to express my gratitude for what he did for this family,” Mgweshe said.
Express reported in June last year how Mkhatshane had dug deep in his pocket and bought food parcels for 50 families from his home village of Corana in Libode.
On June 16 this year, Mkhatshane helped a family in Ugie bury their two family members who died when a truck rammed into their house.
He further donated a truck load of cement blocks to help the family rebuild their destroyed house.
Sange Sibotoboto’s funeral service was scheduled to take place on December 5.
