Siyakubonga Funeral Company owner Ronel Mostert is happy to see the end of her trial.
Siyakubonga Funeral Company owner Ronel Mostert is happy to see the end of her trial.
She was accused of ordering two of her employees to cut off the legs of a dead man in January 2011.
In a statement sent to Grocott's Mail, Mostert said the illegal actions of Mziwanele Klaas and Siphamandla Dyasi had tarnished the reputation of her business and that of the funeral industry. She said she was accused of wrongfully and unlawfully instructing two of her former employees, Klaas and Dyasi, to violate the corpse of Thamsanqa Tshali by removing the lower parts of his legs with an angle grinder on 14 January 2011.
"On 1 October 2014 the Chief Magistrate [Piet Van Vuuren] at Grahamstown discharged me at the end of the state’s case, in other words after Klaas and Dyasi had given evidence," she said.
Dyasi and Klaas claim that Mostert forced them to use an angle grinder to cut a dead man's legs so his tall body could fit into a coffin – or risk losing their jobs. Mziwanele Klaas described to the court during the trial how he prayed before they cut through the flesh and bones of Tshali's legs under the instruction of their boss, Mostert. Calling the actions of Klaas and Dyasi unlawful, she said the trial had caused many people a lot of emotional trauma, including the family of the deceased.
"The reputation of the funeral industry in general and my business in particular was tarnished by their illegal actions and unfounded allegations.
"Our staff and our clients have suffered due to our integrity being questioned," she said, adding that they are obviously delighted that the case is over. Mostert said throughout the process their concern was with their clients who trust them with their loved ones and with the family of the deceased.
"We have been blessed with family, friends, business partners and clients who have never doubted our integrity. Throughout the case we drew strength from their prayers, their support and their trust in us," she said.
Mostert expressed gratitude and appreciation to the National Funeral Directors Association of Southern Africa and her business underwriters Megaphase Financial Services for their unwavering support. She also thanked her "loyal staff who went through the difficult time. As suggested by the name of our business, Siyakubonga, we are truly grateful".
Mostert was discharged in terms of section 174 Act 51/1977 of the Criminal Procedures Act which states: "If, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence referred to in the charge or any offence of which he may be convicted on the charge, it may return a verdict of not guilty."
Both Klaas and Dyasi could face prosecution on the same charges of violation of a corpse.
Previous coverage of the story: Dramatic first day in trial of funeral parlour owner
Translation twist as undertaker walks free
Funeral parlour boss off the hook
