Body parts stolen at funeral parlour
Unbeknown to a bereaved family as they waited anxiously at the burial site of their loved one, a funeral parlour employee was trying to sell their loved one's body parts on the black market, resulting in his arrest.
POLOKWANE – Unbeknown to a bereaved family as they waited anxiously at the burial site of their loved one, a funeral parlour employee was trying to sell their loved one’s body parts on the black market, resulting in his arrest.
When Nare Semenya (60) died last week, his family turned to Telezaro Funeral Parlour as they had a funeral policy with them. As Telezaro did not have their own morgue in Polokwane, Semenya’s body was stored for them at another private mortuary in the city.
Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala said last Friday, Telezaro employee, Joel Kgabo Ranoto (26) was arrested for being in possession of human body parts, including genitals, as well as for the violation of a corpse. His arrest followed after he allegedly called a traditional healer in the city trying to sell the body parts to him. The traditional healer reportedly tipped the police off and a trap was set for Ranoto.
An undercover police official allegedly met with Ranoto in the central business district, to “purchase” the body parts. Ranoto was arrested and human genitals were allegedly found in his possession.
Telezaro owner, Frans Matsobane, expressed shock and disbelief at what had occurred. “As a company, we are shocked and cannot believe this happened. We are busy talking with the family to work out some kind of compensation for them. The employee was immediately discharged from his duties after the police informed me what happened and we distance ourselves from his actions,” Matsobane said.
Semenya’s brother, Kgabo Manaka, said the family was waiting for his brother’s body to arrive at the burial site last Friday so that the funeral could begin. But no body arrived. “Later that night the police called to inform me that my brother’s body had been mutilated and that a man was arrested for being in position of his body parts.
“There is nothing left but hurt and it is made worse by the man who did this being released on bail. My brother has died but I cannot lay him to rest and have lost all the money spent on a funeral that never happened. We now have to start from scratch without any money. My biggest concern is my mother who has been terribly affected by what happened and I am scared that she will die too,” Manaka said.
Semenya’s mother, Mosima (74) and his wife Selina (57) said they could not afford another funeral. The horror of what had happened would haunt their family for the rest of their lives, they said. “We can’t even eat. We will never be able to forgive him,” they said.
To make matters worse for the family, they do not know when they will be able to have Semenya’s funeral as his body will not be released until the police investigation is completed.
Ranoto appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of possession of human body parts and mutilation of a corpse. He was released on R1 000 bail and the case was postponed to March 18, 2014 for further investigation.
