08 Dec 2024

Tomorrow, the Gaoberekwe family will bury one of their own, Pitseng Gaoberekwe, having stayed in a mortuary for more than two years. 

It was not an easy journey as prolonged battle between family and government ensued when the deceased was not granted his wish to be buried in his ancestral land in Metsiamanong in Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).

However, 2024 came with a surprise for the Gaoberekwe family and Joyce Funeral Parlour owner when they received announcement from President Advocate Duma Boko during his maiden State of Nation Address, that the deceased will be laid to rest in Metsiamanong. 

During an interview, a sigh of relief could be felt deeply through the soul of Ms Dekkop, who has been holding on to a quote from Buddha’s little instruction book that reads, ‘everything that has a beginning has an ending, make peace with that and all will be well’. 

The quote is perfectly befitting to Ms Dekkop who together with her staff members who went through a challenging phase during their care to Gaoberekwe’s body.

Narrating her story, Ms Dekkop said they received Gaoberekwe’s body on December 23, 2021 from Ghanzi Primary Hospital, following his death after being admitted at Princess Marina Hospital. 

She said they received the body with the impression that he had succumbed to COVID-19 related complications and as it was a common practice that the corpse should be buried within the first three days of their demise, they also expected him to be buried within a short period of time. 

She said things took a different turn as the corpse exceeded the set turnaround time.

She said they thought the delay could be due to the fact that he died during the festive season and that he would be buried at the end of the festivities.

Little did she know that a prolonged battle had started between government and the family and in the process affecting her business. 

Ms Dekkop said different officials kept on visiting her funeral parlour with no details of what was going on.

She said on March 2022, she submitted a bill to Ghanzi District Council, which was settled.

However, the body never left the morgue, something, which she said exhausted her emotionally and financially.

She said she lost business, as some communities in their vicinity would not want to deal with the ‘disreputable mortuary’. 

She said Gaoberekwe’s body occupied a space that usually accommodated four bodies adding that due to his given health status upon his death, his body was separated from others. 

She said in their daily routines, they would clean and apply special oils to help keep the body intact and fresh.

Despite difficulties that hit her business, Ms Dekkop said, she did not give up but kept on pushing and went to knock at district commissioner’s door. 

She said they were left in the dark, with no communication from the local authorities and even the family members who also completely stopped their visitations.

“Ke tswa go tsena kwa go molaodi, maikutlo a tlhakatlhakanye, mme molaodi le ntswa a ne a le mosha, o ntshiditse maikutlo, ke dule kwa ke hodile ka gore o ne a supa fa kgang e, e le nngwe ya tse a itlamileng go di sala morago le ba ofisi ya tsa molao,” she reminisced.

She said they waited patiently until President Boko made a pronouncement relating to Gaoberekwe’s burial adding that she was one of the people would be in attendance tomorrow. 

She thanked government for their decision adding that already, she had met with Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana. Ends