By Balogun Ajoke
The body of South African Pastor Siva Moodley has been lying in a mortuary in Johannesburg for over a year, as his family and congregation awaits his resurrection.
Pastor Siva Moodley’s body has been at a funeral home in Fourways, Gauteng, for a year.
Moodley, the 53-year-old founder of The Miracle Centre in Johannesburg’s northwestern outskirts, died on August 15, 2021, after brief illness. Since then, his body has been kept at Martin’s Funeral Home.
Martin du Toit, the funeral home manager, confirmed Moodley’s body is still at his mortuary.
“After Pastor Moodley’s death, his family and members of the church used to visit the funeral home to pray for his resurrection. The last visit was in September last year. Nobody has come to view the body since then. There is no news about his funeral,” said Du Toit.
He stated that he had filed an application with the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to have Moodley buried or cremated. However, no date for a hearing has been set as of yet.
“It is a civil matter. I cannot make the decision to bury or cremate him on my own. It has to come from his family but they are not saying anything. He was a well-known man and does not deserve this kind of treatment. I hope the court can provide some relief.”
Services at the church have continued as usual since his death, and are led by his wife, Jessie, son, David, and daughter, Kathryn Jade. The services are also broadcast live on social media.
According to reports, the church has not openly acknowledged his death on social media or informed the congregation of his whereabouts. His social media accounts, particularly Facebook and Twitter, are active, and messages are posted on a daily basis as if they are from him.
Moodley has a global following and a television show called Your Miracle Moment. FaithTV and TBN Africa broadcasted the program on DStv.
Reruns of the show have been broadcast on Miracle TV+, a streaming service, since April of this year. Only Jessie and David appear in new episodes of the show.
Moodley is described on his website as an apostle, author, international speaker, and radio and television personality.
It is also claimed that Moodley made the blind see and restored hearing to some who were deaf. There are also claims that he healed the sick.
Pastor Prem Terry Jugdeo, who followed Pastor Moodley’s ministry, said the family needed to be transparent.
“His family and church members have not respected the death of a great person but believed in the resurrection of this servant of God. His wife and children continue as normal. They need to be honest and not hide away from the facts.”
Congregation members, who declined to be named, also wanted answers.
“Pastor Moodley was a righteous person. He helped so many people but his legacy is being tarnished. Whenever we ask where he is, we never get an answer. Initially, we were told he is coming back soon but a year has gone by and nothing. We read the media reports of his death and we want his family to do the right thing and give him a proper send-off.”
Reggie Moloi, the manager of cemeteries and crematoria for Johannesburg, said they could not force the family to perform a burial or cremation.
“We can only provide the service. This is a family matter. We can only get involved if the body poses a health risk to the community. In that instance, we have to seek permission from the court to have the body buried or cremated.”
Despite several calls, emails and messages on social media for comment, Moodley’s family has not responded
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