Efforts to trace relatives of a deceased church member have failed
NORWOOD – The pastor of the church has appealed to those who may know the deceased to come forward.
A local church has appealed to the public for help in finding the next of kin of a member who passed away more than a month ago.
The pastor of Holy Ghost Fire and Miracle Ministries on Louis Botha in Orange Grove, Walter Chukwu said the young woman, Khadija Ashear Ishmael, had attended the church for about three years. “She fell sick and got admitted to a hospital.
The church checked on her and tried to contact her next of kin but the contacts she provided turned out not to be related to her. It has been a month since she passed away with no family members or next of kin claiming the body,” said Chukwu.
He added that Ishmael had always conversed in English, however, on the day before she passed away (on 12 February) she reportedly spoke deep isiZulu.
After sharing the deceased’s details on Facebook to no avail, the pastor reported the matter at Norwood Police Station.
Spokesperson Sergeant Eric Masotsha advised the church to first try and request assistance from readers of this newspaper.
If that was not successful, Masotsha advised the pastor to get permission from the local municipality to bury the deceased at Westpark Cemetery.
If the next of kin are found, they could access the burial details from the cemetery.
If anyone knows the deceased, they can contact Norwood Police Station on 011 483 4600 or Holy Ghost Fire and Miracle Ministries on 011 483 0382.
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