Arron Nyamayaro
SOCIAL media influencer, Sis Melly Diaries, has come under FIRE for posting the body of a deceased Zimbabwean teenager on her Facebook page without the family’s consent.
Blessed Maponga (16) was found dead in their Johannesburg home by his stepmother, Salome Gunje (48) on November 5, and there are suspected murder allegations surrounding the case.
Blessed’s father, Evans Maponga, believes he was murdered, while documents indicate two potential causes of death – natural or dehydration.
Salome gave Sis Melly consent to post a funeral video.
Salome had been staying with Blessed following her separation from Evans.
Evans told H-Metro that Blessed must have been murdered and Salome could have tried to conceal the matter.
“My son must have been murdered,” said Evans.
“No post-mortem was carried out, but two documents handed to me show two different causes of death, one natural and the other dehydration.
“Salome disappeared when the body was collected from the mortuary and never accompanied the body to Zimbabwe.
“I was told that she is the one who instructed Sis Melly’s Diaries to post the body of my son on her social media platforms without consulting us.
“I separated from Salome when she tried to eliminate me.
“She made false allegations against me to get me arrested, that’s why I ran away.
“I want to believe that she found a better way of fixing me by killing my son.
“Andirwadzisa, andibaya panyama nhete, mwana wangu afirei chaizvo.
“Sis Melly’s Diaries posted Blessed’s body on her social media to make money and never apologised for doing that without my consent,” said Evans.
Sis Melly’s Diaries, known as Melly Mamwoyo, told H-Metro that she was instructed by Salome to record and post the body viewing of Blessed on her social media handles.
“I was not aware that Salome was not the biological mother of the deceased,” said Molly.
“I never knew Salome, although she is one of my followers, and she informed us about the death of her son.
“Takatozonzwa nemakuhwa parufu kuti haasi mwana wake apa iye akanga anditi tora video ukande kuti varikure vazive.
“I was shocked to see her not accompanying the body to Zimbabwe and she has not been reachable from that day.
“Evans questioned me about posting the video of his son and never asked me to remove it.
“I was not aware that he is the father of the deceased. I posted the video since we wanted to increase followers in South Africa to show that we stand with each other in times of sorrow.
“Evans kwakundiudza kuti wakadii kutanga waita background check usati waisa pa-social media.
“I told him that I have no time to do background checks and if he wants this published hameno ikoko, handina kutanga nhasi kunyorwa mumapepa,” she said.
Salome confirmed giving Sisi Melly the green light to record and post funeral proceedings of the deceased on her Facebook and YouTube platforms.
“But from the bottom of my heart I am so sorry for giving Sisi Melly consent to record and post funeral proceedings of the late Blessed,” said Salome.
Blessed died on November 5 in South Africa and his body was taken to Zimbabwe and buried on November 13 in Chiweshe.