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All his family except for his youngest brother had disowned him.

On September 9, Lucas Motsepe, 59, was found dead by his landlord's children in the backyard room he was renting. They had become worried when they did not see him in the morning - given his poor health.

A counsellor and community worker, Mmabatho Khoza of The Ark Ministries, told Sowetan that Motsepe survived by doing gardening for local residents and received care from their NGO, Funanani Trust.

"He died at night in the backyard room he was renting," Khoza said. "He was found lying on the floor with parts of his face eaten by rodents.

"The nose and the flesh below both eyes was gone."

This was corroborated by funeral undertaker Senex Mashile, who said it had been hard to identify the deceased because of his disfigured face.

Motsepe's younger brother, Mandla, said that they had lost their family home after their parents died some years ago.

Mashile said one of Motsepe's other brothers had reneged on his initial promise to pay R2,000 for a full funeral service.

"His young brother, Mandla, [then] offered to pay the money in instalments with the meagre pay he makes from gardening in town," he said.

"That alone prompted me to do the service for free."

Some people and organisations such as Funanani Trust and The Ark Ministries and the families the deceased worked for donated money to buy groceries for the funeral service which took place at Mashile's home in Mamelodi Block C.

Peter Marema, a local councillor, praised Mashile for his role in the burial, describing him as a "'true community builder".

Comments

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Wed May 22 23:52:36 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 25, 2012

warry

Who to blame? This is bad? Apartheid? Eish...
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Sep 25, 2012

Pointman

Not a nice way to go. But it seems there are people with compassion in Attridgeville.
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Sep 25, 2012

Marikana_Mgqumeni

Its very sad and bad but God loves us all may his soul rest in peace
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Sep 25, 2012

Mellow

Iyooo how big are those ratz the thought of it makes me wanna go eeuuwww shame may his soul RIP

I wonder how does his family feel
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Sep 25, 2012

Mosquer

Disosaete di a thuša sometimes. Most of batho ba so called urban areas neglet these things
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Sep 25, 2012

Sugaar

Ke dilo tša batho,I suspect mme wa next door.
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Sep 25, 2012

MJOKA

kwakwaaaaaaaa part of his face was eaten by rodents... rodents eat people now
may his soul rest in peace
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Sep 25, 2012

mopediTwiiiiii1988

May his soul rest in peace
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Sep 25, 2012

Papage

People living alone! This must stop, we have social workers working in SA? It is time people who are lonely get together and stay in houses where they can be helped, just like homes, Blacks must start learning that one day death will come and living alone is not right. Where are the Churches in Atteridgeville? Why did they let something like this to happen? Christians must wakeup now and realise that the God that we praise everyday wants us to Love one another and to do good for one another, is time we standup and do good.
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Sep 25, 2012

jerico

it is indeed a sad story.
*crying*
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