I want my mother's remains next to mine

Modise Motshoge, 69, has almost found peace after exhuming his mother’s corpse from Mogoditshane cemetery yesterday to Phomolong cemetery in the suburbs of Phakalane where he also wishes to be buried.

He recently brought residents and officials of Mogoditshane to an utter jolt when he finally burrowed his mother’s remains of over 12 years. Motshoge told this newspaper yesterday after digging up the grave that relocating a loved one from one cemetery to another is a common thing and should not surprise anyone. “It happens everywhere, I do not see anything startling about it as it is even legal to do so.” Speaking to The Midweek Sun, Motshoge said his health was very critical. “I am convinced my time is near as I am very ill.”

He also revealed that as he nears his demise, he found it necessary to have the body of his mother who passed on in 2005 next to his. “There was no Phomolong at the time when my mother passed on. I would have buried her there,” he said.

Family spokesperson, Thato Seipone confirmed that indeed the remaining son to the family made the decision to move her mother’s remains to another cemetery. “As family, all we could do was bear witness and support his decision,” she said.But locals and residents who witnessed the event felt it was ‘bizarre’ and ‘inhumane’.  Some took to social media platforms like Facebook to vent their frustrations at the ‘uncalled for’ act.

Some went to the extent of blaming it on money, while others felt he did not properly mourn his mother and should be allowed his space. Motshoge however remains content with his decision. He says that even though his mother did not indicate where she would like to be buried, he is confident that being buried close to him is the perfect set up.