Shock in Isipingo as suspected human bones and skulls found dumped at illegal dumpsite

The grisly discovery of bones and skulls dumped at an illegal dumpsite near Isipingo, south of Durban, is believed to be linked to the removal of remains from a private cemetery to make way for new burial space.

The skeletal remains, wrapped in several blankets, were discovered by waste pickers on Tuesday morning. They alerted nearby residents, who then contacted the ward councillor and the local headman (induna).

Police have confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened and that the bones were due to undergo forensic analysis to determine whether they were human remains.

A source at the scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the suspicion was that the remains had been dug up at night from a private cemetery and dumped in the area to create additional burial space.

“We are not sure what would be the motive of digging out the bodies of people and a police investigation will determine this,” said the source.

That version of events was further explored during a television news interview, where a driver hired by a private Durban cemetery said he had been asked to dispose of what he believed was rubbish from the facility.

The driver, whose name was broadcast by the news channel, stated that he was responsible for dumping the bags that later turned out to contain skeletal remains.

According to the driver, he was instructed by a receptionist at the cemetery to transport workers in a bakkie and also dispose of several bags of rubbish.

The driver said he believed he had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time and was shaken when he learned what had been found, as he was unaware that the bags contained bones.

He said a friend alerted him to the discovery in Isipingo and that he had subsequently been interviewed by police.

Ward 93 councillor Thabisile Zungu said that upon receiving information about the discovery, she alerted eThekwini Municipality’s Parks and Recreation Department, which manages cemeteries.

She said local community members informed her that the first discovery of bones had been made on Monday and that dumping continued on Tuesday.

She added that all the remains found at the site were taken by police.

Induna Khangelani Makhanya said he would report the matter to the traditional authorities and that they would await the outcome of the police investigation.

Ethekwini Municipality official Mlungisi Ntombela, who was also at the scene, said there was no indication that bodies had been removed from public cemeteries.

According to the television report, SAPS KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that police were investigating the discovery.

The eThekwini Municipality is known to be facing a shortage of burial space and has been encouraging residents to consider cremating their loved ones.

The issue was also discussed during the South African Funeral Practitioners Association international conference held in Durban last month.

The conference further encouraged people to consider a new form of burial known as aquamation, which uses specialised chemicals to decompose the body within three hours.