A dead woman in a village in Eastern Cape, South Africa has reportedly given birth while her corpse was being prepared for burial.
The 33-year-old mother of five, Nomveliso Nomasonto Mdoyi‚ of Mthayisi village near Mbizana, died after complaining of shortness of breath, her 76-year-old mother, Mandzala Mdoyi‚ was quoted as saying.
But ten days after the deceased’s demise and while funeral parlour staff were preparing her remains for interment, a stillborn baby was discovered inside the coffin.
The incident was said to have thrown the village into confusion, with many villagers alleging witchcraft.
According to Daily Dispatch, Lindokuhle Funeral parlour owner Fundile Makalana said staff were so scared that they did not dare confirm the sex of the child.
He said, “We were so shocked and frightened that we did not even have time to look at the sex of the baby. I have been in the business for more than 20 years and I have never heard of a dead woman giving birth.”
Both the stillborn infant and the mother were reportedly buried in one big coffin on Saturday.