WATCH: Tzaneen Family Forced to Carry Deceased Loved One After Hearse Gets Stuck on Rain-Damaged Road
A heartbreaking and deeply traumatising incident has left the Tzaneen community in shock after a hearse failed to reach a homestead due to severely damaged roads, forcing grieving family members to take an unimaginable step.
According to the now-viral video, the hearse came to a halt metres away from the family’s home after heavy rains left the gravel road washed out and impossible to navigate. With no alternative transport able to pass through the mud and deep potholes, relatives were left stranded with the body of their loved one.
In the footage, devastated family members can be seen wrapping the deceased in a sack before carrying the body on foot for a long distance while helpless residents stood by, clearly moved and distressed by what they were witnessing. Voices in the background express shock and disbelief as the mourners struggle through the muddy terrain.
Residents say the incident highlights a much bigger problem faced by many rural communities in Tzaneen — poor road infrastructure that leaves families vulnerable during emergencies or important occasions like funerals. Some community members slammed local authorities for failing to maintain the roads, saying the tragedy could have been avoided.
“This should never happen to any family,” a resident can be heard saying in the video. “Our roads have been bad for years. Now people must carry their loved ones like this? It’s painful.”
The video has sparked outrage on social media, with many users demanding urgent intervention and calling on municipalities to address infrastructure issues before more lives and dignity are affected.
As the family prepares to lay their loved one to rest, they are left with an additional layer of trauma — one that the community will not soon forget.
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