LIMPOPO – California Sithole, the 14-year-old daughter of a Zimbabwean man who was mistakenly declared dead and buried, has revealed how she repeatedly told relatives that the body they had identified was not that of her father.

California’s father, 46-year-old James Bvunyenge, who is well known in Giyani as James Sithole, left his home in Siyandhani village in January after casual construction jobs started drying up in the area.

Having separated from his wife and living alone, he left without telling anyone where he was going.

“I didn’t think I would stay that long, but piece jobs kept taking me from one place to another. Plus, since I hadn’t left anyone at home, I didn’t see a need to return home immediately,” explained Sithole.

Body wrongly identified as missing man

However, after several weeks passed without him returning, concerned friends reported him missing. Around the same time, an unidentified body was discovered at Thomo village. Sithole’s sister and other relatives were called to identify the body and concluded that it was him.

California, however, said she immediately told them that the body did not belong to her father; her aunt and other relatives, however, insisted that it was him. As a child, she was easily overruled by her adult relatives.

Money totalling more than R25 000 was then raised to help send his body to Zimbabwe.

However, a few months after the community’s contribution to bury him, Sithole shocked the community when he showed up alive and healthy.

Daughter’s doubts dismissed from the start

Speaking about the ordeal, California said she had doubts from the moment she was taken to view the body.

“When my father’s friends came to fetch me to go and identify his body at the mortuary, I didn’t know what to expect,” she explained.

“When I got there, I asked them if the person they were showing me was the one they believed to be my father, and they said yes. Without any doubt, I immediately told them that it was not him.”

California said she initially questioned the identification, telling relatives that her father was tall while the recovered body was small built.

Despite her objections, they insisted it was him.

“I then said, ‘It’s fine, do as you please’ and went back home,” she said.

DNA test abandoned over cost

She said her concerns were again dismissed when the family considered a DNA test.

Although a blood sample was to be taken from her, her aunt was persuaded by her father’s friend’s wife that testing was unnecessary because they knew him well. The test was abandoned.

California recalled being told a DNA test using a tooth would cost about R8 000, compared to R3 000 for a blood sample.

“Maybe this is one of the reasons they did not want to proceed with the DNA test,” she said.

Now that her father has returned, California said she was relieved.

“I can’t let him out of my sight,” she said as she clung to him.

Police confirm awareness of case

Giyani police confirmed they were aware of the case but declined to provide details.

“Statements were taken, but that’s all I can say at this stage,” said police spokesperson Sergeant Ridgewell Rikhotso.