“We need to know where the spirit is buried, because only then will we have peace in the family.”
The Mtolo family initially believed that Sijlmans was preventing the return of Sikaniso’s body. Later, they contacted authorities in SA in an attempt to get the body repatriated. They were told that because their ancestor had been buried in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission grave, they would not be allowed to exhume the body.The only other option would be a ceremony to bring his spirit home.
Sikaniso’s other grandson Gayeni went so far as to try to bring the missing soldier home by performing a spiritual ceremony on the beachfront in Durban. He had had dreams of his grandfather that he took as an omen., a faith healer, he attempted to entice Sikaniso’s spirit to leave the sea and come home to his kraal. The ceremony appeared to go well, but as part of the ritual Gayeni would have to drive home in silence.
The estimate is that the undertaking will cost €30 000 . The plan would be for Sijlmans to fly out to SA and then take the family members across to Europe. “Hopefully we can take them to the Isle of Wight, in the English Channel, so they can see where the actual incident took place,” says Ngobese. “Then take them to the beach where the bodies washed up, and eventually to the cemetery.”
“This journey began in 2014 and I am hoping to go there. But the way things are going, I am beginning to doubt it,” says Martin. The Mtolo family hope that if they can get to Noordwijk, Martin and his brother Gayeni will be able to speak to their grandfather’s spirit. They will ask the spirit to follow them back to SA.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
African students in Wuhan just want to be evacuated - The Mail & GuardianAfrican citizens in Wuhan are feeling increasingly helpless and abandoned by their governments. It is time for African governments to bring them home, writes Mickey Adney.
Read more »
'Traumatized' Africans stranded by coronavirus plead to be brought home - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.When Margaret Ntale Namusisi’s three daughters called her in Uganda to say they were being quarantined at their university in Wuhan, China, because of the coronavirus outbreak, she sent money and told them: “Run very fast and do shopping.”
Read more »
Lost hikers safely off Table Mountain after 20-hour rescue operation“The second team began securing anchor points at a new position, and when they managed to obtain voice contact with the hikers, it was learnt that much longer rope and hauling systems were required.”
Read more »
Lost hikers safely off Table Mountain after 20-hour rescue operationThree hikers who got disorientated and lost were brought to safety off Table Mountain early on Sunday after a 20-hour-long rescue operation.
Read more »
'I am not afraid of jail', says ZumaFormer president Jacob Zuma returned home on Saturday after a month-long trip to Cuba for medical treatment and told crowds waiting for him at the airport th...
Read more »
LIVESTREAM: Joseph Shabalala to be laid to restThe music legend died at the age of 78 after a long illness.
Read more »