EFF in Alexandra lends a helping hand to family of Unathi Bhiya for her funeral
ALEXANDRA– Mphahlele said he learned about the family's situation from a concerned neighbour who came to ask him to intervene.
The family of 16-year-old Unathi Bhiya has finally managed to lay her to rest at Waterfall Cemetery after four weeks of struggle to bury her due to financial difficulties.
This was after an intervention by Economic Freedom Fighters proportional representative councillor in the City of Johannesburg, Moshe Mphahlele who lent a helping hand to the family.
Bhiya who was born disabled died in Johannesburg Hospital on 1 March after a short illness. Her unemployed mother Noxolo Phoswa could not bury her only daughter because she did not have the money or an identity book to ask for help from the government.
Mphahlele said he learned about the family’s situation from a concerned neighbour of theirs who asked him to intervene.
“As a community leader, I couldn’t say no to the request of Boniwe Malotana, the neighbour, who told me about the situation of Unathi’s family,” said Mphahlele. “Having someone in a mortuary for more than a month because you can’t afford a funeral is not an easy thing especially to us black people. I had to go and ask the City of Johannesburg to help the family with payment for the mortuary and a coffin.
“We as the Economic Freedom Fighters had to ensure that members of the community get something to eat after the funeral. We asked the local businessmen to help us with a tent and chairs and through that help we were able to give Unathi a dignified send-off she deserved.”
Malotana thanked Mphahlele for his swift response to her plea and called upon other political leaders in the community to lend a helping hand to the poor in moments of affliction.
Phoswa had to be rushed to Masakhane Community Health Centre after the funeral after she collapsed during the burial.
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