“This amount is for Joyce’s Funeral Parlour,” Moeti stated. “Due to the extended period the deceased spent in the mortuary, his body will not be available for public viewing. The government has assured us that it would cover the expenses. Currently, arrangements are underway for a helicopter to transport the body to the burial site. This decision was made because the mortuary vehicle cannot traverse the poor road conditions to the burial location. Additionally, the intense heat makes it unsuitable for the body to travel long distances by road,” he added. Moeti further explained that the government would only provide transportation for the deceased’s relatives. However, he expressed regret that arrangements could not be made for the community of New Xade to attend the burial.
He acknowledged that many had hoped to bid farewell to the late elder. This came after, President Duma Boko announced that the government would honour Gaoberekwe's wishes by burying him in the CKGR, specifically in Metsiamanong, on December 10, 2024. This decision comes after a prolonged and contentious battle between his family and the government over his burial site, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Gaoberekwe passed away on December 21, 2021, after being transported to New Xade for medical assistance following a critical illness. Following his death, the government argued that his relocation to New Xade made it an appropriate burial site. However, his family strongly opposed this, insisting on honouring Gaoberekwe's wish to be buried in the CKGR. This disagreement complicated burial arrangements for years. By early 2023, the family had publicly declared their decision to move on with their lives, stating that they would not participate in any government-led burial arrangements. The government also committed to covering all the associated costs. With only two weeks left before Gaoberekwe would mark three years in the mortuary Moeti, confirmed that funeral arrangements were underway.
“We visited the mortuary today to view the body of Gaoberekwe. As expected, the body is not in good condition after such a long time, but it remains in the mortuary,” Moeti stated. The family had wanted to bury their father, Pitseng, in the CKGR as per his wish. After losing at Botswana’s apex court, the family appealed for legal assistance to take the government of Botswana to the African Commission Court. He said the family could not go against the will of the deceased since it is a taboo in their culture and they could end up being cursed by their ancestors. In addition, the family spokesperson had maintained that the deceased did not have any home apart from the CKGR. In 2022, the family planned to appeal its case to the International Criminal Court of Justice but could not do so due to financial challenges. That was hardly after the Court of Appeal (CoA) had dismissed their case.
