Photo: Girl lowered into the grave before and after her twin brother’s coffin was put in to prevent bad luck or death

An 11-year-old boy who was allegedly killed by his father
to please his stepmother, was buried on Thursday, May 19, in Kagiso,
Mogale City, South Africa. As tradition demands, the boy’s twin sister
was lowered into the grave before and after his coffin was lowered.

Traditional
and community leader Sibangani Khanyile said this was done to
prevent bad luck and death from following the living twin. 

The boy’s sombre funeral was organised by community members as the whereabouts of their mother’s family is unknown.
The community came out in large numbers to say their last goodbyes. The
twins are originally from Mpumalanga and were brought to Kagiso, Mogale
City by a friend of their mum after she died.

A
neighbour said after the twins arrived in Kagiso they were ill-treated
by their stepmum, who said she couldn’t accept them because their father
had cheated on her with their mum.

At
the funeral the boy’s devastated sister was comforted by their mum’s
friend, Nomgqibelo Maphanga, who brought them from Mpumalanga.

Nomgqibelo
expressed her pain and said she had lost the most free-spirited child
she has ever come across. She expressed her appreciation and relief that
the funeral arrangements went according to plan.

“My prayer now is that his soul rests in peace,” she added.

The boy was killed last Saturday and his body was found on Tuesday. His father has reportedly confessed to killing him. The father has been charged with murder and is still in police custody.