FUNERAL set, coffin ready... but where’s the body?
What was supposed to be a dignified send-off for the president of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church in Zion Inyoni Emhlophe turned into chaos and drama.
A family from Osizweni in Newcastle, KZN, wants answers after allegedly finding building blocks inside a coffin they believed had their brother’s remains.
He banna, mohlolo
The shocked family said they’re still trying to come to terms with the discovery. They believe the only person who can provide answers is the deceased’s alleged lover.
Dr Thamsanqa Nkonyane (75) allegedly died on Sunday, 24 May 2026, at his home in eThekwini, where he had reportedly moved in with his alleged lover and had stayed together for over 21 years while he was legally married. They allegedly had a 20-year-old child together.
Family makes shocking discovery
His family arrived at his funeral on Saturday, 6 June 2026, in Newcastle, with a court interdict. They stopped the funeral and when they opened the coffin, allegedly found building blocks inside instead of his remains.
Since the shocking discovery, the family had been searching for his remains.
Nkonyane’s body was allegedly found in a grave on the church mission premises in Newcastle on Monday, 8 June 2026.
Family finds fresh grave
Nkonyane’s sister, Sibongile Nkonyane, told Daily Sun that the body had been found buried behind the mission house.
“We were shocked when we opened the coffin and didn’t find our brother. Instead, we found building blocks. All we wanted was to be told where our brother’s body was, but we didn’t get answers. We then decided to go to the mission house and indeed we found the grave,” she said.
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She claimed that she and several family members searched the area and eventually noticed fresh sand behind the house.
“We then pushed a mop stick into the ground and noticed that indeed it was where my brother was buried,” she said.
Court order needed
Sibongile said the family can’t take any further action until they receive approval from the court.
“We are going to get a court order from the High Court so that we will be able to exhume my brother’s body from the grave where he was buried,” she said.
She said the family is confident it has found his grave and now only needs permission to exhume it.
Church speaks out
The church earlier released a statement confirming the matter and said it was saddened by the unfortunate and inhumane turn of events.
The church also stated that it supports the Nkonyane family in their pursuit of justice.
Amagata investigates the matter.
KZN police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that police in Osizweni are investigating a case of fraud.
The discovery was made when family members of the supposed deceased person produced an interdict to stop the funeral.
— Netshiunda
Police are continuing with their investigation.
