A close friend allegedly deceived the family of Mapaputsi. After Mapaputsi’s death at a hospital in Durban, his friend informed his family that he would help transport the body from Durban to Johannesburg at no cost.
However, the family later found out that the friend had attempted to extort money from them, saying they should use a funeral company he selected, and when they refused, he allegedly threatened them, saying they wouldn’t receive the body.
Following this, it was reported that the friend claimed they couldn’t retrieve the body unless they paid R50,000 for the death certificate.
The friend also allegedly requested Mapaputsi’s mother’s bank details without giving a reason for why he needed them.
Subsequently, the police, an anti-corruption organization, and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture intervened to secure Mapaputsi’s body and the necessary documentation.
