Govt will help bury priest, daughter

INTERVENTION by North West premier Thandi Modise has ensured that a Coligny priest and his daughter - whose remains were buried inside their home - are reburied with dignity.

A funeral service for the two will be held at Tlhabologang Sports Ground in Coligny on Saturday.

Modise's office, which will foot the bill, is also assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

The office also appealed to the Tlhabologang community to support the family to help it find "closure to this dreadful ordeal".

Modise said her government was deeply moved by the double tragedy.

She said the deceased deserved decent funerals irrespective of their poverty and status.

She also urged families who are unable to bury their loved ones because of poverty and unemployment to approach their local municipalities or social services for assistance.

The badly decomposed body of Elias Maretlwa, 61, and the skeleton of his daughter 23-year-old Leki were discovered in a shallow grave in the bedroom of their house two weeks ago.

Family members have accused Maretlwa's wife, Bertha, of being responsible for the deaths.

Maretlwa, a priest of the National Independent Congregation Church, was reported missing in December while his daughter was reported missing in 2009.

After their disappearance, Bertha allegedly told family members that the two had gone to train as traditional healers in neighbouring Botswana.

She told them that they would return on June 16 this year.

Bertha also allegedly told the family that church members and friends had promised to throw a big welcome party for the priest and his daughter. The family became suspicious when the priest and his daughter did not return on June 16 as promised.

After persistent questioning by the family, Bertha allegedly confessed that the two had died and that she had buried them in the house because she could not afford decent funerals.

The house was often used by the National Independent Congregation Church for services.

Bertha and her 16-year-old daughter are the chief suspects in both murders. The case will return to Coligny Magistrate's court on July 2.

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tshehleb@sowetan.co.za