A family in Humansdorp is seeking answers after a loved one’s body was allegedly sent to the wrong funeral home following her death at the Humansdorp Hospital, forcing relatives to pay additional fees for the transfer.
Nonceba Hlela passed away on May 9 at the Humansdorp Hospital.
What followed was a confusing and distressing series of events that her family believes point to possible misconduct by hospital staff.
The deceased’s cousin, Xolani Woni, said that the family received a call from the hospital at about 22:30 on May 9 confirming that Hlela had passed.
He said that the family confirmed with the hospital that the deceased had a funeral policy with Avbob Funeral Service, Humansdorp, and requested that her body be transferred to the said funeral home, which the hospital agreed to.
“We spent the weekend informing relatives of Nonceba’s passing, believing her body was safely at Avbob as arranged,” said Woni.
Despite having discussions with the hospital, he reported that by Monday, May 12, they had received no communication from Avbob.
Instead, Woni said that a different funeral home (their name is known to Kouga Express) in Humansdorp contacted the family after allegedly requesting the hospital provide them with contact information, as no one had claimed the deceased’s body.
“After discovering that this other funeral home had Nonceba’s body we had to pay them R2 100 for her release to Avbob,” said Woni.
An anonymous employee at Avbob Humansdorp confirmed that the deceased had an active funeral policy with their company.
The employee expressed surprise at the situation, stating, “We often receive after-hours phone calls, and we are always available on the phone regardless of the time. However, Humansdorp Hospital never called us to collect the deceased’s body.”
The employee added that it is common practice for their driver to pick up a body within 30 minutes of receiving a call.
Once the family visited Avbob to clarify the confusion, the employee confirmed that they collected the deceased on May 13, four days after she passed away.
Woni claims that the hospital staff may have deliberately directed the body to the other funeral home for personal gain.
“I’ve heard about people dying in hospitals, and hospital workers calling undertakers to come and collect the bodies, and they are paid a fee. This, in my book, is called selling bodies, which is wrong,” said Woni.
This funeral home reportedly confirmed to Woni that they were called by the hospital at 23:00 on May 9.
The family is now seeking a refund of the R2 100 transfer fee and calling for an investigation into the alleged practice.
“All we want is the R2 100 paid back,” Woni said.
“I also want hospital employees to stop making money out of grieving people by selling their bodies to whichever funeral parlour that will pay them.”
Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, said that the Humansdorp Hospital has launched an internal investigation into the matter.
• The funeral home was contacted numerous times for comment, but calls went unanswered.
