The body of seven-month-old Sikhosana Mosemene went missing from a government mortuary in Pinetown a year ago and has still not been found. According to a report on the IoL site, the family is suing the KZNl Health Department for the trauma they have had to endure.

Sebode Mosemene, Sikhosana’s father, said the most painful part of the ordeal was not being able to bury his son, which had led to his wife suffering a nervous breakdown. He said the department had still not provided counselling to the family, nor had it explained the disappearance of the baby’s body.

Infant Sikhosana died on 26 March last year at an informal day care centre and his body was taken to the Pinetown mortuary.

Two days later the baby’s body could not be found when the parents went to the mortuary to take it to Lesotho, their country of origin.

‘I did not bury my child. I don’t know where his bones are. His spirit cannot rest without the religious and cultural rites that are performed when a person dies. We have been deprived of our right to lay our child to rest and to perform these rites,’ said Mosemene.

Thandi Sima, director of Thandi Sima and Associates, said they were representing the Mosemenes in the matter and that papers had been filed.

'Whether the matter goes to court depends on them (the department),’ Sima said. She would not divulge the amount the family was seeking in damages from the department.

Full report on the IoL site