Municipal staff discover suspected burial irregularities at Nieuwedrift
Workers at Nieuwedrift Cemetery in Paarl raised the alarm after noticing paperwork and identification tags that did not match a coffin they were preparing to inter. According to local reporting, their inspection uncovered a second, decomposing body beneath the coffin and a bag containing what was described as human intestines. The discovery prompted immediate action by the Drakenstein Municipality and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The incident was first reported by regional media. Drakenstein’s executive director for Safety and Community Services, Eda Barnard, confirmed the municipality was alerted to “potential irregularities” at the cemetery on Thursday and said an initial investigation had been conducted.
“The Municipality conducted an initial investigation and immediately referred the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS). SAPS is now conducting a full investigation,”
Barnard said the municipality had taken “immediate precautionary measures” at the cemetery, including securing the area, observing health and safety measures and providing support to municipal staff who first encountered the situation. She said all actions were carried out in line with established protocols and under SAPS guidance. The municipality referred further enquiries to the police.
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that Paarl police had received a complaint of alleged misconduct by an undertaker at a cemetery in Paarl and that an inquiry had been opened for further investigation.
What municipal action looked like
The municipality outlined immediate steps it said were taken after staff discovered the irregularities. Those measures, as described by the municipality, included:
- securing the scene to prevent unauthorised access;
- observing applicable health and safety protocols;
- supporting municipal staff who encountered the suspected irregularities; and
- referring the matter to SAPS for a full criminal investigation.
The undertaker implicated in media reports did not provide comment directly. The funeral parlour discussed in reporting referred enquiries to its legal representative, who said she had not yet received a mandate to handle media enquiries.
Questions for families, regulators and the community
The allegations, if substantiated, raise several issues for Paarl residents. Proper documentation and identification are central to cemetery operations and to the rights of families who expect dignified and accurate handling of their deceased relatives. The reported discovery of an unrecorded body and a bag with human remains inside a double-depth grave would indicate both procedural and potentially criminal failings.
Residents who have recently arranged funerals, or who have family members interred at Nieuwedrift, may reasonably expect clarity from both the municipality and SAPS about the scope of the incident, whether additional burials might be affected, and what steps will be taken to review cemetery controls and undertaker practices.
| Event | Action taken |
|---|---|
| Alert raised by municipal workers | Initial municipal enquiry on site |
| Irregularities reported (paperwork, tags, extra remains) | Scene secured; health and safety measures observed |
| Matter referred | Referred to SAPS; inquiry opened by Paarl police |
At this stage, Drakenstein Municipality has not independently confirmed some of the more graphic details circulating in media reports; it has emphasised only that potential irregularities were reported and that SAPS now has full oversight of the matter.
SAPS will determine whether criminal charges are appropriate and whether further municipal or regulatory action is required. For families and the wider community in Paarl, the priority will be prompt, transparent information on whether any other burials were affected and what remedial steps will be taken to restore public confidence in cemetery operations.
Police enquiries remain ongoing and the municipality has asked that all further media queries be directed to SAPS.
