A Giyani family has been left shocked after burying the wrong man, only for the person they thought was dead to return home alive months later.
The man, 46-year-old James Bvunyenge, who is popularly known as James Sithole, left his home in Siyandhani village in January after casual construction jobs became scarce.
Because he lived alone after separating from his wife, Sithole left without telling his family where he was going.
“I didn’t think I would stay that long, but piece jobs kept taking me from one place to another,” he said.
When weeks passed without any word from him, worried friends reported him missing.
Around the same time, an unidentified body was found in Thomo village. Sithole’s sister and other relatives were called to identify the body and believed it was him.
But his 14-year-old daughter, California Sithole, immediately disagreed.
California said she told her relatives that the body did not look like her father. She said her father was tall, while the body was smaller.
Despite her objections, the family went ahead with the burial.
More than R25 000 was raised by the community to transport the body to Zimbabwe for burial.
The family also considered conducting a DNA test to confirm the identity, but the test was eventually abandoned because of the cost.
California said she had even been told that a DNA test using a tooth would cost about R8 000, while a blood test would cost around R3 000.
Months later, Sithole stunned his family and the community when he returned home alive and well.
California said she was relieved to have her father back.
“I can’t let him out of my sight,” she said while clinging to him.
Giyani police have confirmed that they are aware of the case.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Ridgewell Rikhotso said statements had been taken but declined to provide further details.
