The parents of 19-year-old Mondli Majola, who was murdered in Phoenix, north of Durban, during the July unrest, say they are bitterly disappointed that they were not present at the exhumation of his body. Majola’s body was privately exhumed at Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.
The exhumation comes after contradictory evidence was presented in court over the cause of death during a bail application by the three accused.
The state’s forensic pathologist said in her report that Majola died from a stab wound. But the investigating officer has testified that Majola was shot in the face as well.
Majola’s mother, Nombuso, says, “There is nothing else we can do. We were told that this is the only way to get justice. The family is going through a very difficult time. I am very emotional about what is happening in the Eastern Cape today. I can’t sleep when I’m thinking about this. It is breaking me literally.”
Majola’s father, Learnmore Siwela, says he was furious after watching security footage of how his son and other people were being attacked.
Siwela says the controversy over the DA poster hailing people as heroes has made it worse for him.
“If they had shown remorse. But as I was watching that footage it shows what their intentions was. They enjoyed each and every part of what they were doing. I was trying to understand the meaning of the term hero. I couldn’t get it or the sense why they said those guys are heroes,” says Siwela.
Defence requests to have the body exhumed:
