The death of a Zimbabwean woman, Naume Mudzamiri, after she jumped to her death into the middle of a busy freeway on 17 November 2021 , with her two young children in her arms has left the community shocked and confused.
Suicide in Kempton Park
Naume and the 10 months old baby died on the spot, while the three year old girl miraculously survived. The girl was picked up at the scene by emergency services and no one knows how she survived because she is too young to speak.
Naume threw herself from the flyover above the busy freeway in Atlas road, near the O.R. Tambo International Airport, during the night , and left a number of voice notes in which she explained why she was taking her life.
Cheating
Naume reportedly committed suicide after she discovered that her husband, Chancellor, was cheating on her with another Zimbabwean woman and they were giving her too much stress.
Naume blamed a woman called Talent and her husband for abusing her.
Documentation
Both Naume and her three month old baby did not have any documentation to be in South Africa. The Zimbabwe consulate in South Africa has since facilitated for the baby and mothers to be registered.
However, the department of Home affairs in Zimbabwe are refusing to issue a letter to confirm that the baby is Zimbabwean.
Bodies
The bodies of Naume and her three year old baby are still at a funeral palour in South Africa, where they have been for the past three weeks, since being moved from a government mortuary.
Burial
According to family members, the mother of Naume is currently in Harare. The two bodies have not been buried because they are in a state of decomposition and need special chemicals before they can be transported to Zimbabwe.
Lobola
Speaking to Gambakwe Media, Chancellor said he had never met the family of Naume before she died and had not paid Lobola.
When Naume died, the first step was for Chancellor’s family to negotiate with her family in line with traditional customs. The negotiations for payment of Lobola and damages took two weeks.
It was only after the payment of damages and part of the Lobola that the bodies were moved to a private funeral palour.
However, because the bodies have been at the funeral palour for too long, they are too decomposed to be moved to Zimbabwe.
The family is now awaiting government pathologists to recommend the best checmicals to use on the bodies before they can be transported to Zimbabwe.
What help is needed at present
- Money is required to pay debts at the funeral palour and for moving the bodies to ZImbabwe.
- A letter is needed for the baby to be buried with the mother, this letter needs to come from the Registrar’s office.
- The child who was left and the mother of Naume may be in need of counselling and other assistance.
- You can contact Gambakwe Media on +27 83 214 6681 if you are able to assist.
Please watch the video above this post for more details.
