The family of Zandile Nothabo Khumalo has expressed disappointment that relatives of her husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma , had not visited to offer condol...
The family of Zandile Nothabo Khumalo has expressed disappointment that relatives of her husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, had not visited to offer condolences or an apology following the deaths of Zandile and her two daughters, Natalie and Nala.
Speaking during the funeral service held at Brethren in Christ Church in New Lobengula on Tuesday, family representative Dr Ntsika Dakamela said the Tshuma family had not approached the Khumalo family to express remorse over the tragedy.
“The Tshuma family has not come to apologise to us,” Dr Dakamela told mourners during the service.
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He said that, according to custom, the Khumalo family had expected relatives of Tshuma to visit their home to express condolences and acknowledge the family’s loss.
“They were supposed to come to the gate, kneel down and say they were sorry because what happened was not of their doing,” he said.
Dr Dakamela said the family decided to address the matter publicly to avoid speculation about whether such a visit had taken place.
“We don’t want people to speculate. We expected them to come, but they did not. They took it lightly,” he said.
Zandile, 42, and her daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were laid to rest side by side at Old Luveve Cemetery following the church service.
The three died in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, in the United Kingdom last month. Their bodies were repatriated to Zimbabwe ahead of Tuesday’s funeral.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, Zandile’s husband and the father of the two girls, remains in custody in South Africa. Authorities in the United Kingdom have authorised three counts of murder against him.
The United Kingdom is seeking Tshuma’s extradition from South Africa so that he can stand trial. The extradition process is ongoing, and the criminal charges against him have not yet been heard in court.
