******* What kind of world are we living in? ******** Daily News 3/5/01 Poverty-stricken man digs his own grave By Eric Ndiyane Unemployment and poverty have forced a man from southern KwaZulu-Natal to think ahead and start digging his own grave in preparation of his death - whenever it may happen. Dembese Doncabe, 58, of Baphumile, near Port Shepstone, shocked his two wives and the rest of the community when he began digging his own grave two months ago. Doncabe is unemployed and his family relies on growing vegetables for survival. He said the idea of digging his own grave came after he attended a funeral of a local couple a few years ago and he noticed how high the funeral costs were. "Recently someone told me that the actual cost of a funeral had multiplied and could even be more than R5 000 for a cheap service. I thought to myself my family could never afford anything like that amount," he said. Doncabe said that one day he woke up and told his wife about his 10-hour-long decision to start digging his own grave to save money. "I went to the local Induna and to the police to inform them of my decision. The reality is that I cannot afford all the fancy things that go with modern-day funerals," he said. He said that a week after he had dug the hole, there was widespread condemnation by his fellow villagers, who even asked him to stop bringing a curse on the village. In his village it is believed that if one digs a grave, death will reign. "I am the most poor person who ever lived in this community and I told them that they were the ones who knew my situation better. "When I die, people will just have to put me in a coffin, which I will be making in the coming months," he said. Doncabe said people continued to visit his home because they wanted to see the grave for themselves. "I have learned that poverty can make someone think. One thing I know is that at my funeral there will be no jelly, meat or drink. People will only eat plain samp and it will be one of the shortest funeral services," said the humble man. Doncabe now plans to charge people a small amount of money when they come to view the grave. One of his wives, Fikile Gladys Doncabe, said she could not wait for her husband to finish the grave so he could start digging hers. "I was shocked when he first told me about his decision and it did not go down well with me at the time, but after he explained to me I understood. My friends in the community criticised me for allowing him to continue with this grave," she said. She said the idea arose from their desperate poverty. "We have to accept that it is expensive to bury a family member in these days and those who are poor like us will always be subjects of gossip for failing to feed those at the funerals," she said. A local resident, Victor Shozi, said the village had accepted Doncabe's reasons for digging the grave. http://www.iol.co.za/general/newsview.php?click_id=124&art_id=ct200105010925 </Redirect/www.iol.co.za/general/newsview.php?click_id=124&art_id=ct20010501 0925>22993G610330&set_id=1
