The mystery surrounding the disappearance and alleged secret burial of Dr Thamsanqa Nkonyane has taken another dramatic turn after a local man came forward claiming he unknowingly helped uncover the pastor’s body.
The saga began when Nkonyane’s family arrived at his funeral in Newcastle armed with a court interdict and halted the proceedings. According to the family, they opened the coffin expecting to find their brother’s remains, only to allegedly discover building blocks inside.
Days later, the family claimed they located what they believed to be Nkonyane’s grave behind a mission house linked to the church. The body was allegedly found buried on the church premises after relatives noticed freshly disturbed soil.
Now, a man from the community says he was approached by another individual and asked to assist with digging at the property. He claims he and a friend were never told what they were digging for.
According to his account, while excavating the site they unexpectedly came across a corpse dressed in blue and white church regalia.
The man alleges that once those present confirmed that the remains were human, the grave was closed again.
He further claims that he and others were later given R250 and instructed to buy a case of Black Label beer and guard the grave throughout the night to prevent anyone from approaching it.
The man says he decided to come forward because he fears being implicated in the case and wants it known that he had no prior knowledge that the excavation would lead to the discovery of a body.
“I didn’t know we were digging for a corpse,” he reportedly said, adding that he believed he had simply been hired to assist with digging work.
The extraordinary case has raised more questions than answers, with investigators now expected to determine how a coffin allegedly ended up containing building blocks while a body was buried elsewhere on the church property.
The Nkonyane family has indicated that it intends seeking a High Court order to formally exhume the body and proceed with a proper burial.
