The Mathibela community and the Mathibela Traditional Council have expressed shock after two funeral services were held for the late taxi operator, Brown Hlatshwayo.

Brown, who tragically died in a vehicle accident in Marite on November 17, was the subject of a dispute between his wife, Angie, and his brother, Renias Hlatshwayo, over the location of his funeral.

Despite the Traditional Council’s instruction that the service be held at Brown’s own house, where his wife and children live, Renias arranged for the funeral to take place at their parents’ home on November 23 at 06:00. Angie, who is blind, claimed that she was taken advantage of by her brother-in-law, who organised the separate funeral without informing her.

“My husband moved to his parents’ home three months ago without explaining why. When he passed away, there was a dispute between me, Renias and my stepdaughter about the funeral location. I wanted it at Brown’s house, but they disagreed. Despite the council’s instruction, Renias went back on his word,” she said. Angie further described how mourners had to wait at her house for two hours before the service started without the body.

Renias defended his actions, saying that his brother had expressed a wish to be buried at their parents’ home, where he had been staying due to his strained marriage with Angie. “I honoured his wish. Some friends and family knew about the service at our parents’ home, and I briefly took his body to his house so his children could say goodbye before the burial,” he explained.

Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena of the Mathibela Traditional Council condemned the actions, calling them disgraceful. “Two funeral services for one person is unheard of in any culture. My instruction was clear, and it was ignored. This must be addressed to prevent a recurrence,” he stated.

Under South African law, the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 grants women in customary marriages the same rights as those in civil marriages, including the right to bury their husbands if still married. This legal framework appears to support Angie’s position in the dispute.