Thuli Mhlongo of Ekurhuleni, South Africa is reportedly convinced that her mother—who died in 2018—was turned into a zombie that's been haunting her for years now. Following her mother's death, local elders prepared the body for burial per local tradition. But instead of presenting the deceased in an open coffin before burial, as is usually done, the lid was closed, preventing Thuli from knowing for sure that her mother was inside.
Ever since, Thuli claimed, her mom's been visiting her as a zombie in her dreams, telling her she's alive and asking what can be done to address the situation. Other family members think Thuli is crazy, but a sangoma (traditional healer) has advised that this injustice has made her mother's soul restless. Thuli refuses to involve law enforcement, because she doesn't believe the courts will believe her story.