High Court Stops Newcastle Funeral Before Coffin Is Allegedly Found Filled With Bricks

In an unusual case that has gripped Newcastle’s religious community, a High Court interdict abruptly halted the funeral of a prominent church leader, only for authorities to later discover that the coffin allegedly contained building bricks instead of the deceased minister’s body.

The incident unfolded on Saturday, 6 June 2026, during the funeral proceedings for President Thamsanqa Elijah Nkonyane, the late leader of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church in Zion, Inyoni Emhlophe.

According to an official statement issued by the denomination, the church had announced the passing of its fourth spiritual leader on 24 May 2026.

Funeral proceedings were scheduled to take place at the Osizweni Church Headquarters in Newcastle, with the cortege expected to depart for the cemetery at 1 pm.

However, as the service neared its conclusion, members of the South African Police Service entered the venue to serve an urgent interdict issued by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

“The application for the interdict was brought earlier that morning by Mrs Dolly Nkonyane (MaNgcobo), the wife of the late President TE Nkonyane, with whom he had been married in community of property since 1988 and from whom he was never divorced. The court ruled in her favour, and the order was executed by the police in conjunction with the Nkonyane family,” stated the church.

Church officials further alleged that Priscilla Sizeni Mazibuko (MaKhuzwayo), who had reportedly been living with the late President in eThekwini before his death, had unilaterally arranged the funeral without consulting his legal wife or the extended Nkonyane family.

Following the disruption, the matter took a further disturbing turn.

According to the church, when the cortege returned to the mortuary with the Nkonyane family, as directed by the court order, the family requested that the coffin be opened by the service provider.

“It was then discovered, in the presence of the police who were escorting the coffin, that the coffin did not contain the body of the late President but only building bricks,” the church statement continued.

The denomination said the discovery has left the congregation demanding the immediate return of their leader’s body. The church further confirmed that the Nkonyane family has opened a criminal case, registered under Osizweni CAS 61/6/2026, against Priscilla Sizeni Mazibuko and Icebolethu Funerals.

“The Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church in Zion, Inyoni Emhlophe, is saddened by this unfortunate and inhumane turn of events. The church stands with the Nkonyane family and supports their pursuit of justice in this matter,” the statement concluded.

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At the time of publication, the Icebolethu Group had not issued a public response to the allegations levelled against its service.

As investigations continue, the matter has raised serious questions around the handling of funeral arrangements, family rights, accountability, and the safeguarding of dignity in death.

For the Nkonyane family, the congregation, and the wider church community, what was meant to be a solemn farewell has instead become a deeply unsettling dispute now requiring answers through the legal and criminal justice process.

Until the late President’s remains are recovered and the facts are formally established, closure remains painfully out of reach.

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