/ 4 October 2008

Poisoned KZN family to be buried

The funeral of 13 members of a KwaZulu-Natal family who were killed after consuming a herbal concoction was expected to be held later on Saturday near Port Shepstone.

Hundreds were expected to turn out for the funeral of the Mazubanes, whose bodies were discovered on September 21 by a neighbour who had gone to their Dingleton home.

Police spokesperson Zandra Wiid said at the time they had apparently been carrying out a regular ritual of taking herbal medicine when they began collapsing.

Found dead were a two-week-old baby, four boys aged between two and seven, a 17-year-old boy, a 21-year-old man, four women in their 30s and two 55-year-olds.

It was believed that the 17-year-old, a trainee traditional healer, had administered the deadly concoction.

Two members of the family — who did not consume the poison — survived.

KwaZulu-Natal’s social welfare minister Meshack Radebe was expected to attend the funeral at Dingleton sportsground. – Sapa