An Eastern Cape family is desperate to bury their son who died in Cuba. Sibusiso Qonqgo was studying medicine in Cuba when he died following a short illness over a month ago.
The family says when Sibusiso died on 29 April, the Eastern Cape Health Department gave them 48 hours to decide whether to cremate the body or bury it in Cuba. After refusing these options and asking for the body to be repatriated, they say it’s been a back and forth with the department. They say emails from the MEC of Health explain how expensive it would be to get the remains back to South Africa.
The matter was referred to the national Health Department, but the family says that, too, has proved fruitless. I’d like Sibusiso’s body to be returned home so we can bury him,” said his mother Nolubabalo Qongqo. If that was done earlier, maybe now we’d start to heal even though we’ll never forget.
Parliament’s National Health Portfolio Committee chairperson Sbongiseni Dlomo says he has only recently learnt of the matter. We have an ambassador in Cuba, a South African doctor, Dr Hadebe who I’ve also been in touch with. Now that you’ve really brought it to my attention we’ll do something. As the chairperson of the portfolio committee, we’ll check what are the challenges,” Dlomo said.
In other news – I slapped Him a few times – One of the suspects who killed Bobo speaks out, reveals all that happened
The suspects in the murder case of Andile “Bobo” Mbuthu appeared in the Verulam Magistrates Court yesterday.
Mlungisi Thabethe (28), Andile Nhleko (27), Mncedisi Mzobe (27), Siyanda Msweli(27), Lindani Ndlovu (22) and Malusi Mthembu (27) were applying for bail. Read more
Source: eNCA
