The Maharaj family from Thornville near Pietermaritzburg and the Mateke family from Lesotho are demanding a collective R25m from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu after a mix-up led to the body of Keketso Josefa Mateke (32) being cremated in a Hindu funeral service, reports the Sunday Times.
Two letters detailing the families’ intention to claim for damages have been delivered to Grey’s Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, where mortuary staff gave Mateke’s body to the Maharaj family instead of the remains of 84-year-old Chunderson Maharaj.
Maharaj was admitted to hospital after sustaining injuries in a fall in June. He tested positive for COVID-19 in hospital and died on 15 July.
Representing both families, attorney Theasen Pillay said in a letter that the hospital’s “disastrous and … inhumane blunder” resulted in “undue emotional distress, psychological trauma, additional costs, inconvenience and hardship”.
The Maharaj family, who had to perform a second funeral service after the mix-up was discovered, are claiming R15m. The Mateke family are claiming R10m.
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