Family demands lobola upfront to bury copse.
A LUPANE family of a Cowdray Park woman who was brutally murdered by her live-in boyfriend is demanding a full lobola upfront before burying their daughter.
Their daughter, Simosenkosi Sibanda (27) was recently allegedly murdered by Dingani Sibanda (31) in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park surburb over why she was peering over the fence towards their neighbour’s son.
Sibanda fled the scene after tragically assaulting his lover, leaving behind the lifeless body of the victim and the woman’s seven-month-old baby was found crying next to the mother’s lifeless body.
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The Demands
In a letter addressed to Dingani’s family, the deceased’s family wants Dingani to pay US$100 to initiate talks, either a cow or US$300 as kangaziwe and four beasts for lobola.
Furthermore, the family demanded that Dingani’s family also handle all funeral costs and arrangements.
“Njengoba uSimosenkosi ubengu malukazana wenu ngaphandle kwemvumo yethu sicela lisithwalele umngcwabo. Ubekwa ekhaya eLupane,” read part of the letter.
Way Forward
In response to the issue, Mrs Xolani Nyathi, Dingani’s sister, said the situation was emotionally draining the family as they not financially ready .
“We have managed to raise only US$400 towards their demands and now our biggest challenge is taking care of the baby whose biological father’s whereabouts are unknown and it’s now a burden on us,” she said.
She said Simosenkosi’s family refused to take care of care of their daughter’s child and when they engaged the police about the issue, and were advised to conform to Simosenkosi’s family demands.
“We spoke to the police about the issue for advice, and they told us to listen to the family’s demands and now we are racing against time before the body decomposes,” she said.
Circumstances Leading to the Tragic Incident.
According to the perpetrators father, Mr Phineas Sibanda, on the night of the incident, he returned home from work and heard noise and screaming coming from the kitchen. Dingani was questioning Simosekosi about why she was peering over the neighbour’s house, suspecting her interest in the neighbour’s son.
“When i knocked on the door, Dingani refused to open and i decided to inform the police and when i returned, i found the child crying and the door still locked,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said he then decided to enter through the window and he discovered Simosenkosi’s lifeless body lying on the floor in a pool of blood, while his son was nowhere to be found.
The perpetrator was arrested the following day after committing the crime while waiting at a hiking spot near Marc’s garage to board a lift to South Africa.
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