Mbabane – Endzingeni traditional authorities are asking the High Court to order the exhumation of Maria Shabangu’s remains, arguing that her burial at the family graveyard violated chiefdom rules requiring certain family members to be buried at communal sites.
The application, brought by Chief Prince Mavelebaleni Dlamini and the Inner Council of Endzingeni Royal Kraal against Maria’s husband, Samuel Ndani Shabangu, seeks to have her remains reburied at a communal graveyard.
In court papers, the applicants argue that the chiefdom’s burial rules do not permit a surviving spouse to bury a partner at a family graveyard when the deceased was the first spouse to die.
According to Indvuna Anderson Mphikeleli Mkhonta, the rules were adopted through community meetings and provide that a surviving spouse may be buried beside their partner at a family graveyard only if the partner died first and was already buried there. Children are also required to be buried at communal sites.
The authorities contend that Maria did not qualify for burial at the family graveyard under these rules.
They further want the court to prevent Samuel, or anyone acting under his authority, from burying other family members at the site. They are also seeking police assistance during the execution of any order to maintain peace.
The dispute follows an earlier court order granted on September 24, 2026, which the applicants say was issued in their absence after their legal representative went to the wrong courtroom. They claim the burial, initially planned for September 26, took place on September 24.
The Attorney General’s office had been notified of the urgent proceedings, and Crown Counsel Mzamo Mlotsa was assigned to represent the applicants. In an affidavit, Mlotsa said his failure to appear in the courtroom where the matter was heard was unintentional, explaining that the court had changed venues without notifying him.
The applicants are asking the High Court to vary the September 24 order and grant the relief sought in their latest application.
They maintain that the chiefdom’s restrictions on family graveyards are intended to prevent graves from interfering with development and business activities, as well as the movement of traditional authorities.
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