By Theodorah waga Mawasha
MOOKGOPONG-Authorities in Limpopo have exhumed the mortal remains of 40 unclaimed bodies that were secretly buried in two pauper’s graves at the Mookgophong cemetery, sparking outrage and calls for accountability.
According to police, the remains were buried without coffins and allegedly without following proper burial protocols. A funeral parlour contracted by the Limpopo Department of Health is accused of carrying out the mass burials in secret.
The exhumation process, led by police and forensic experts from the provincial health department, began on Monday and is expected to continue until Friday. Access to the cemetery has been prohibited while investigations are underway.
The 40 deceased individuals, believed to be paupers, were reportedly stored for weeks in local mortuaries before being buried without proper documentation or individual graves.
Health Department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana confirmed the incident and said an internal investigation has been launched.
“Firstly, we want to clarify that the individuals were indeed declared paupers. In such cases, the municipality is responsible for the burial. However, due to the municipality facing challenges at the time, we had to intervene and appoint a service provider,” said Shikwambana.
“Our storage facilities were under immense pressure — imagine having 40 unclaimed bodies in our mortuaries. As for the allegation of a mass burial, we have launched a full investigation into the matter.”
The revelation has triggered public outcry in Mookgophong and across Limpopo, with many residents demanding transparency and dignity in the handling of unclaimed bodies.
Legal experts and human rights organisations have raised concerns about the potential violation of burial laws and ethical standards.
At this stage, no arrests have been made, but the police confirm the investigation is ongoing. Further forensic work will be conducted to properly identify the remains.
