02-16-2010, 01:50 PM
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=380305
2010/02/15
TWO families in Transkei are fighting over a psychiatric patient they both say is their son following claims last year that the man had come back from the dead.
The Ntwalana family, from New Payne village in Mthatha, insisted this week that the man is their 26- year-old child Siviwe Ntwalana , who was murdered five years ago.
However, the Zokufa family, from Rara village in Mqanduli, are adamant he is their 28-year-old family member, Lakitha Zokufa and they are prepared to have DNA tests done to make their point.
The man at the centre of the dispute is currently a patient at Mthatha General Hospitals Mental Clinic, where he has been admitted as Lakitha Zokufa.
Both families say only the police can clarify which family the man belongs to by matching the fingerprints on IDs, which both families have.
The Ntwalanas believe the man came back to life after his murder in 2005. He arrived in the village last year out of the blue and the family took him in.
Zamikhaya Ntwalana, 27, claiming to be the mans cousin, said his family was dead sure that the scars on the mans body resembled those of Siviwe, who was buried in March 2005.
We are sure that my cousin resurfaced from death. He has a scratch on the nail of his left thumb, which he sustained when we were playing wagons while we were very young.
He also has a scar on top of his right eye, which he sustained from being gored by a cow , said Zamikhaya.
Siviwe was stabbed several times by another man during an argument over a woman and died as a result.
People do resurface after being confirmed dead and buried. Similar things happened twice in Qokolweni, in 1994 and 1997 , said Zamikhaya.
The family took him to the Mental Clinic at Mthatha General Hospital and bought new clothes for him.
There, a social worker identified him as Lakitha Zokufa, a patient often referred to the clinic for treatment.
Yesterday Nongadlela Zokufa said the man was the son of his late uncle. I understand why the Ntwalanas claim he is their (family) member because when I looked at the dead mans ID they look alike , said Nongadlela.
He said his family was planning to refund the Ntwalanas for all the money they had spent taking care of the man.
Nongadlela also said they would undertake a DNA test to settle the dispute once and for all. - By BONGANI HANS
Mthatha Bureau
2010/02/15
TWO families in Transkei are fighting over a psychiatric patient they both say is their son following claims last year that the man had come back from the dead.
The Ntwalana family, from New Payne village in Mthatha, insisted this week that the man is their 26- year-old child Siviwe Ntwalana , who was murdered five years ago.
However, the Zokufa family, from Rara village in Mqanduli, are adamant he is their 28-year-old family member, Lakitha Zokufa and they are prepared to have DNA tests done to make their point.
The man at the centre of the dispute is currently a patient at Mthatha General Hospitals Mental Clinic, where he has been admitted as Lakitha Zokufa.
Both families say only the police can clarify which family the man belongs to by matching the fingerprints on IDs, which both families have.
The Ntwalanas believe the man came back to life after his murder in 2005. He arrived in the village last year out of the blue and the family took him in.
Zamikhaya Ntwalana, 27, claiming to be the mans cousin, said his family was dead sure that the scars on the mans body resembled those of Siviwe, who was buried in March 2005.
We are sure that my cousin resurfaced from death. He has a scratch on the nail of his left thumb, which he sustained when we were playing wagons while we were very young.
He also has a scar on top of his right eye, which he sustained from being gored by a cow , said Zamikhaya.
Siviwe was stabbed several times by another man during an argument over a woman and died as a result.
People do resurface after being confirmed dead and buried. Similar things happened twice in Qokolweni, in 1994 and 1997 , said Zamikhaya.
The family took him to the Mental Clinic at Mthatha General Hospital and bought new clothes for him.
There, a social worker identified him as Lakitha Zokufa, a patient often referred to the clinic for treatment.
Yesterday Nongadlela Zokufa said the man was the son of his late uncle. I understand why the Ntwalanas claim he is their (family) member because when I looked at the dead mans ID they look alike , said Nongadlela.
He said his family was planning to refund the Ntwalanas for all the money they had spent taking care of the man.
Nongadlela also said they would undertake a DNA test to settle the dispute once and for all. - By BONGANI HANS
Mthatha Bureau
