CKGR burial case to be heard this month
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday November 8, 2022 06:00
Gaoberekwe's remains have been lying in the mortuary since mid-December 2021 pending the finalisation of the court matter. The family had lost the case at the High Court hence the appeal.
The deceased’s family currently residing in New Xade had informed the court that their father’s last wish was for him to be buried at CKGR [Central Kalahari Game Reserve] rather than New Xade stating that he had lived his entire life at the reserve.
The family contends that their father moved to New Xade for easy access to health facilities. However, the Ghanzi District Council had informed the family that they would not have the resources to assist the family to take the body to the CKGR, but matters turned for the worst when the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) disputed his body be taken to the game reserve for burial.
Initially, the family had applied for an entry permit after they settled out-of-court with the Ghanzi District Council. The latter had taken the matter to court seeking an order to bury the deceased in New Xade.
The council wanted Gaoberekwe to be buried in New Xade, but the family opposed this insisting that as per Sesarwa culture their father has to be buried in the CKGR where he originated.
Although the two parties’ settlement was approved by the Lobatse High Court, the family has been denied entry into the game reserve by DWNP. The High Court had approved the settlement by the two parties which gave the family the green light to enter the CKGR to bury the deceased. However, things changed as the DWNP made an application before the High Court which barred the family entry into the CKGR.
Gaoberekwe died on December 21, 2021, and his body still lies in the morgue awaiting a resolution to the dispute regarding his burial site. Currently, the Gaoberekwe family is said to be owing Joyce’s Funeral Parlour over P100,000. “We owe the mortuary a lot of money. The last time we checked, which is last month, the bill was over P100,000.
At first, the council had covered some of the costs, but these are the ones we incurred after losing the court case and we have appealed the matter. The date for trial might be set for next month and that is why the cost might rise,” family spokesperson, Smith Moeti told The Monitor at the end of October.