ONE of Xolile Matsetse’s dying wishes was to be buried in his home town of Lady Frere, Eastern Cape.
But his family decided to bury him in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, angering the 63-year-old’s neighbours and friends.
Xolile, who lived in Sweet Homes in Nyanga East, suffered from asthma and died on Monday.
Thandokazi Maqaza (30) told Daily Sun: “Madala Xolile has been our responsibility for the past 19 years.
“Not one of his family members from Khayelitsha ever bothered to look after him.
“I am talking on behalf of our neighbours in Sweet Homes when I say we are not happy with the family’s decision to bury him in Cape Town.
“His wish was to be buried in his home town of Lady Frere. According to African culture, a dead man’s wish must be honoured.”
Thandokazi said what made it worse was that Xolile belonged to a burial society and was paying R200 a month.
“His family never even visited him. We have been taking care of the old man and we even helped him to get his pension money.”
Xolile’s girlfriend, Notsokometse Xekiswe (61), said they met three years ago and decided to move in together.
“I looked after him and he suffered many asthma attacks. He always said he wanted to be buried in the Eastern Cape.
“When he died, his family came and took everything, even the little money we had.”
Xolile’s sister, Nomaindya Thithi (52), said Notsokometse never told the family that Xolile wanted to be buried in the Eastern Cape.
“All our rituals can be done here and that’s why we decided to have the funeral in Khayelitsha,” she said, adding that the family was due to meet with Notsokometse yesterday to discuss the issue.
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