Family buries South African pastor after keeping body in morgue since 2021 awaiting resurrection

A South African pastor, Siva Moodley, was buried 579 days after his death.

Moodley, 53, the founder of the Miracle Center in northern Johannesburg, died on August 15, 2021 following illness.

The late pastor used to preach that “no Christian should die of disease”.

The funeral took place in Gauteng on Thursday March 16, 2023.

According to IOL, Moodley’s body had been kept in a morgue in Johannesburg since his death because his family hoped he would be resurrected.

The IOL reported that after his death, his family and church members used to go to the funeral home to pray for his resurrection.

At the time, funeral home director Martin du Toit filed an application with the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court to grant him permission to have Moodley buried or cremated. However, the case had not yet been set for a hearing.

Since Moodley’s death, services at the church have been held as normal and are led by his wife, Jessie, son David and daughter Kathryn Jade. The services are also streamed live on social media.

The church reportedly did not openly acknowledge his death on social media or inform the congregation of his whereabouts. His social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter, are operational and messages are posted every day as if they were from him.

Miracle Center staff declined to speak to the media. They said they had a policy in place that prevented them from doing so.