SHE had her hands crossed over her chest and was holding a phone.
This is the memory Ntombifuthi Shange (33) has of one of her three nieces, whom she went to identify at the Diepkloof mortuary in Soweto on Friday morning, 1 September.
The three, Nokwanda Khanyile (27), Snikihwe Seme (22) and Bongi Nkomo (25), were among the people who died during a fire in a five-storey building on the corner of Albert and Delvers streets.
The hijacked building called Usindiso shelter, which housed shacks, burnt down on Thursday, 31 August, claiming the lives of 76 people and leaving 52 injured.
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Speaking to Ntombifuthi, who could barely hold back her tears, she said it was easy to identify Senikiwe because she did not have severe burns. However, Nokwanda was the worst, but knowing her body, it was easy to identify her.
"I just knew it was her because of her body. She had her hands crossed over her chest and was holding a phone. I could not see Bongiwe because it was getting too much for me. It was my family who wanted to identify her," she said.
While it was not easy to see her nieces lying dead at the mortuary, Ntombifuthi said she was glad they were able to recover their bodies and begin the healing process.
"When I went in there, my mind was completely elsewhere. I never thought they would end up here. In my heart I had hope that I would find them in hospital, but unfortunately that did not happen.
"When I came here, I prayed that there would be no confusion with her body and that did not happen, so I am glad. It hurts, but I am glad we can have closure," she said.
She told Daily Sun that the three will be buried in KZN because that is where they are from.
Several families gathered at the Diepkloof mortuary hoping to identify their dead family members.
A 33-year-old man said he had come to identify his brother-in-law and the only closure for him was to see the body.
"I just need to see him and be sure it is him. I am prepared for anything," he said.
The process of identification is still ongoing.
To prevent families from being presented with the wrong bodies, Motalatale Modiba, spokesman for the Gauteng Department of Health, said they would have to wait for the current DNA method, which is also being handled by the police.
Modiba also assured that undocumented foreigners will not be deported when they collect the bodies of their loved ones who died in the fire, as it is believed that the occupants of the building were foreigners.
Concerned families can visit the mortuary again on Saturday, 2 September and Sunday, 3 September from 9am until 3pm.
