Funeral costs of Dorothy Masuka remain unpaid almost a year later
Shortly after the late jazz legend Dorothy Masuka passed on early last year, the Department of Arts and Culture promised the family R100 000 for funeral services.
A year on, the family of the veteran musician is being harassed by creditors who are demanding money for services rendered during her funeral.
Sunday World can reveal that Masuka’s family has been bombarded with a torrent of calls from Soweto- based undertaker Kupane Funerals and an unknown catering company, who are demanding their dues.
This after the department, which hired them, sent them from pillar to post when they demanded their payment.
It is not known how much the service providers are owed but, in a letter written to the family by the department’s acting deputy-director general, Charles Mabaso, in February last year, the department promised to contribute R100 000 towards the artist’s funeral expenses.
The 83-year-old Nginje singer, who died of undisclosed illness, was buried in March last year.
Department of Arts and Culture spokeswoman Zimasa Velaphi acknowledged that payment had not been made yet and apologised to the family for the inconvenience caused.
“The department is waiting for tax clearance certificates and proof of expenditure from the service providers before effecting payment. Payment will be made immediately upon receiving the said documents,” he said.
Kupane Funerals owner Molefi Kupane had not responded to questions sent to him at the time of going to press.
The department’s failure to pay service providers angered Masuka’s friends, singer and actor Mara Louw and poet Mzwakhe Mbuli. Louw told Sunday World that she was disgusted with how the department had handled the situation.
She also said she was disappointed that the family was unable to grieve Masuka properly because of the harassment from service providers.
“It’s disgusting really. How can they do that to the family for so long? It’s a disappointment and it’s sad,” said Louw. Mbuli said that it was an embarrassment for the Masuka family to endure such harassment.
“I am of the understanding that the department will finalise the situation by the end of January, but really this is an embarrassment because they are the first to go around to make endless speeches about the late but cannot fulfil their promises,” said Mbuli.
Masuka family spokeswoman Sibongile Masuka said she was hopeful service providers will be paid this week. “Lets just wait and see,” she said.
By Nokuthula Zwane
State fails Masuka family
