THE funeral of Nhlanhla Thengo, who died after she allegedly overdosed on tablets, has been postponed.
Nhlanhla (16), a grade 10 pupil, died at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg on Tuesday, 21 November, after she allegedly overdosed on pills.
On Saturday, 2 December, Nhlanhla from Joe Slovo's informal settlement in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, was supposed to be buried but due to financial difficulties, the family couldn't pay the undertaker.
Nhlanhla allegedly overdosed on tablets on Sunday, 19 November, and was admitted to the hospital, and she ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Mourners, including Nhlanhla's schoolmates, friends, and relatives, had to leave after waiting hours for the funeral service to start.
According to grieving Nhlanhla's gogo, Ester Thengo (65), the family had financial difficulties raising R15 000 to pay the undertaker.
She said the undertaker charged them R17 000 but was willing to help if they could pay R15 000.
"We proceeded with the funeral arrangements with the hope of getting the money on Friday, 1 December, but due to unforeseen reasons, we only managed to get R10 000.
"Sadly, we had no choice but to call off the funeral and we cannot blame the undertaker for not proceeding with the funeral because he collected the deceased corpse and kept it in his mortuary without getting money from us,” she said.
ALSO READ: PICS: Sea of sorrow for Nhlanhla
Gogo Ester, who was in tears, told Daily Sun that she used her pension grant to buy food for the funeral.
“The food was prepared but since there was no funeral, we had to dish it out to the mourners.
“We are appealing to any Good Samaritan to help us with the remaining money, and if it comes to the push, we will make means to pay back the money,” she said.
Nhlanhla’s mum, Phumla Thengo, said the postponement of the funeral hurt her.
“I was hoping today we were going to bury my daughter, but now we find ourselves in a difficult situation," Phumla said.
“It has been difficult to deal with the pain of losing my daughter. Now we can’t bury her."
She said it hurt her that her daughter died a painful death without telling anyone what was troubling her.
“To make matters worse, we had to postpone her funeral.
“It’s hurting, but we hope we will overcome the situation and bury her,” Phumla said.
A man from the undertaker told Daily Sun they couldn’t provide the service because the family didn’t pay.
“I felt sorry for the family in this situation, but the company policy doesn't allow us to provide funeral services without getting a deposit from the clients.
“I’m a parent as well and I understand what the family is going through. We hope they will get the money and the funeral can be arranged between Monday and Thursday, when they pay the deposit,” he said.
