“President Cyril Ramaphosa please intervene and repatriate the body of the late Zambian President Edgar Lungu back to his country where he will be given a dignified funeral,” said leader of civil rights movement Progressive Forces of South Africa leader Mthetho Ngcukaithobi in a message directed at South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ngcukaithobi said this while speaking to Tshwane Talks at a media briefing in Tshwane on Thursday.
He lamented the fact that state resources were used regarding the conflict between Edgar Lungu’s family and the present Zambian government under Hakahibde Hichilema.
The Lungu family wanted to bury the former Zambian President here in South Africa but the Zambian government managed to get a court interdict and stopped his funeral from taking place in Johannesburg.
“Fifty or sixty years down the line members of Lungu’s family may claim that South Africa is their land because their forefather Lungu was buried here in the country and we therefore say we can’t allow such a situation as land is a crucial matter,” he said.
He pointed out that the late Zambian President Edgar Lungu came to South Africa using a pseudo passport and not a diplomatic passport as should be the case with a person of his stature who was president of Zambia.
He said the issue of the late President Edgar Lungu is typical of the trend among African leaders who loot the coffers of their country when in power and send the ill-gotten wealth to countries like the USA, Europe and UAE.
He said South Africa has now also turned into a haven of looters.
The Progressive Forces of South Africa indicated in a statement that some members of Lungu’s family are presently facing serious charges in Zambia related to looting wealth and property in that country.
Lungu’s widow Esther Lungu faces charges of possession of property which is suspected to be proceeds from crime.
Lungu’s daughter Tasila Lungu faces charges of possession of farm property.
Another daughter of the late President Lungu, Chiyeso Lungu also faces charges of unlawful ownership of property.
Lungu’s son Dalitso faces charges of money laundering and possession of 48 vehicles.
According to Progressive Forces of South Africa, the Lungu family are beneficiaries of the sale of Mopani Mines.
At the same media briefing King Hlalele said it would be taboo for a Zambian President or any other president for that matter to be buried in South Africa.
Hlalele said according to African tradition and rituals everybody must be buried where the bones and graves of their ancestors are.
“This matter doesn’t require court interference; this is what we know; let the Zambian President be taken to his country and be buried together with his ancestors in that country,” he said.
Member of the Confederation of South African Citizens Tuka Motha said after thorough consultation with leaders of other entities regarding the intended burial of the late President Lungu in South Africa it was agreed that South Africa has laws, constitution and borders and that the laws of the country must be implemented.
“If the intended burial of Lungu in South Africa is unlawful then there is going to be a problem,” he said.
Defend South Africa Secretary Rachel Makhubela told the media that the aim of her organisation is to defend the country from internal and external threats and pointed out that the intended burial of the late President Lungu in South Africa is a threat to the country.
“We are saying the Lungu family must go back to Zambia, bury their father there and account for all the alleged crimes against them in that country,” she said.
“South Africa is not a country where we harbour criminals and the government must therefore control the movement of people entering this country to avoid letting criminals to hide here,” she said.
Mary Tati of Thembelihle Residents Association lamented the fact that almost all people on the African continent want to come to South Africa as they regard it as the “the America of Africa” but her movement is against illegal migration into the country.
“To those who come here thinking they can get away with crime via the assistance of corrupt government officials we are saying that won’t be tolerated here in South Africa, and to the police who have taken an oath to protect South African citizens but are instead collaborating with criminals we are saying that is not acceptable,” lamented Tati.
Progressive Forces SA movements were joined by different organisation such as United Civic Movement, Thembelihle Residents Association, Re A Ga, SACRA, COSATU, PCC.