A funeral meant to honour one of South Africa’s prominent church leaders has descended into controversy, court battles, and a shocking criminal investigation after mourners allegedly discovered that a coffin contained building bricks instead of the deceased’s body.
The dramatic incident unfolded during the funeral of late church president Dr Thamsanqa Nkonyane, sparking outrage within his family, congregation and wider community.
A criminal case has now been opened against Icebolethu Funerals and Nkonyane’s long-time partner, Priscilla Sizeni Mazibuko, following allegations surrounding the handling of the funeral arrangements and the disappearance of the body.
Family Wins Court Battle to Stop Burial
The dispute centres on the legal status of Dr Nkonyane’s marriage.
The Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church in Zion, also known as Inyoni Emhlophe, confirmed that the Nkonyane family stands firmly behind his legal wife, Dolly Nkonyane, insisting that the couple was never divorced.
According to the church, Dolly Nkonyane approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court and successfully obtained an urgent interdict preventing the burial from proceeding.
The application was granted on the morning of Saturday, 6 June 2026, just hours before the funeral was due to conclude at the church’s headquarters in Osizweni, KwaZulu-Natal.
Church officials said Priscilla Mazibuko, who had been living with the late church leader in eThekwini at the time of his death, allegedly arranged the funeral without involving either his legal wife or members of the Nkonyane family.
Police Arrive During Funeral Service
What was expected to be a solemn farewell took a dramatic turn when members of the South African Police Service arrived at the funeral venue carrying the court order.
The church said police intervened shortly before the funeral cortege was scheduled to leave for the cemetery.
The burial was halted immediately, and the coffin was ordered to be returned to the mortuary in accordance with the court ruling.
Family members accompanied the coffin back to the mortuary, where they requested that funeral officials open it.
What happened next stunned everyone present.
Bricks Allegedly Found Inside Coffin
According to a statement released by the church, the coffin was opened in the presence of police officers escorting it.
Instead of finding the remains of Dr Nkonyane, those present allegedly discovered building bricks inside the casket.
The revelation has triggered widespread shock and raised serious questions about the whereabouts of the late church leader’s body.
The church described the incident as both “unfortunate” and “inhumane”, expressing deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the funeral arrangements.
Criminal Case Opened
Following the discovery, the Nkonyane family opened a criminal case in Osizweni, Newcastle, against both Priscilla Sizeni Mazibuko and Icebolethu Funerals.
The family is seeking answers regarding how the funeral arrangements were handled and what happened to the body of the deceased church leader.
The Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church in Zion has publicly backed the family’s pursuit of justice.
“The church stands firmly with the Nkonyane family and supports their pursuit of justice in this matter,” the organisation said in its official statement.
Questions Mount for Icebolethu
At the centre of the growing controversy is Icebolethu Funerals, one of South Africa’s best-known funeral service providers.
The company has not yet issued an official statement regarding the allegations.
However, a video circulating on social media has intensified scrutiny. In the footage, the chairperson of the board is allegedly heard acknowledging that bricks had been placed inside the coffin. No explanation is reportedly provided for why this was done.
The authenticity and context of the video have not been independently verified.
A Church in Mourning, A Family Seeking Answers
Dr Thamsanqa Nkonyane, the fourth president of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church in Zion, died on 24 May 2026.
What should have been a final farewell has instead become a deeply disturbing mystery involving legal disputes, missing remains and allegations that have shaken both the church and the Nkonyane family.
As police investigations continue, the central question remains unanswered: where is the body of Dr Thamsanqa Nkonyane?
Attempts to obtain a comment from Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone went unanswered.