In one of the most brazen crimes to have hit South Africa, three corpses have been stolen during an armed robbery at a mortuary in Kuruman, Northern Cape. 

Two armed men broke into the Motheo wa Bophelo Funerals, tied security guards with ropes and left with the mortal remains of two males and a girl in the early hours of Monday, March 17. 

Shocked locals who spoke to African Times on condition of anonymity claimed the funeral parlour did not have CCTV cameras on the property, adding that the incident had left affected families traumatized. 

“The families are shocked and traumatized. The funerals were supposed to take place this weekend. These guys did not even have cameras on the premises. What happened is shocking and unacceptable,” said a Kuruman resident. 

Motheo wa Bophelo Funerals confirmed the incident in a statement released by spokesperson James Mangate, who described the theft of bodies as an inhumane “act of desecration”. 

“In the early hours of 17 March 2025, there was a forceful break-in at our facility, during which three human remains were stolen. This act of desecration is both inhumane and deeply distressing to the affected families, our staff, and the community at large. We have been in contact with law enforcement authorities, who are actively investigating this matter.”

“We respect the investigative process and will allow the police the necessary time to conduct and conclude their inquiries. In addition to law enforcement efforts, we have deployed additional investigators and search teams to assist in locating the stolen remains,” Mangate said. 

He added that the funeral parlour had arranged for social workers and religious leaders to support and counsel the affected families. Moreover, Mangate said that Motheo wa Bophelo Funerals had tight security across all its branches. 

“Motheo wa Bophelo has stringent security measures in place across all our facilities to minimise risks of incidents such as this. However, in light of this unfortunate event, we are taking further precautions to enhance security and ensure the safety of the deceased entrusted to our care. The well-being and dignity of those we serve remain our priority,” Mangate added. 

When approached by African Times for comment, Mangate and other Motheo wa Bophelo Funerals managers declined to comment further. Mangate dropped his phone after we introduced ourselves. 

A receptionist who answered the mortuary’s landline referred African Times to a female manager who refused to identify herself.  

“We have no comment on that matter,” She said before slamming the phone. 

Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, Northern Cape provincial police spokesperson, said the Provincial Crime Investigation Services (CIS) was investigating a business robbery case concerning the theft of bodies at the Motheo wa Bophelo Funerals. 

“It is alleged that on Monday, 17 March 2025, at approximately 01:30, two unknown men entered a guard room at the funeral home and assaulted, tied up and blindfolded the security guard. The suspects allegedly fled with three corpses, including two adult males and one baby girl,” said Lt Col Kock. 

He would not comment further on the possible motive for the theft of bodies and how far are the police investigations.

The theft of corpses was a topical issue on social media. Some people sympathised with Motheo wa Bophela Funerals, while others condemned the Kuruman mortuary for allegedly not having CCTV cameras. 

“This is heartbreaking and disturbing. I hope they find the bodies,” said Karabs Bangaa Seema on her Facebook wall. 

Responding to Seema, Keobiditse Elie Disipi said: “But how did it happen? Where was the 24-hour security service personnel? Where was the armed response? Where were the security cameras and burglar doors? A these guys ba iketle ka metlae [These guys must wait a bit with their jokes].”

Thabiso Mooba concurred with Disipi. “[I] wanted to ask that. Sometimes, we blame the SAPS without getting to the bottom of the root cause. Yes, sometimes they are slack. Where is the footage? SAPS can’t be in all the places at the same time,” he said. 

Body theft in South Africa, often linked to fraudulent insurance claims, has been a growing concern in recent years. While precise national statistics are scarce, several notable incidents highlight the prevalence and nature of this crime.

The National Funeral Practitioners Association has previously raised alarms about a rise in body thefts. Syndicates were reported to steal bodies, assign them new identities, register false death certificates, and conduct sham funerals to legitimize insurance claims. ​

In 2022, four individuals, including a mother and daughter, were convicted for kidnapping people to obtain their identification documents. They used these IDs to falsely claim unidentified bodies from mortuaries, subsequently filing fraudulent insurance claims. ​

In 2012, two individuals were arrested for “borrowing” a corpse to facilitate a fraudulent life insurance claim. A woman created a fake identity, took out insurance policies, and, with the help of a funeral parlour owner, presented someone else’s corpse as the deceased to claim the insurance. ​

These cases underscore the challenges faced by South African authorities in combating body theft and related fraudulent activities. However, comprehensive data on the frequency of such incidents and the total number of arrests made is not readily available.

The involvement of some funeral parlours in these schemes further complicates detection and prevention efforts, according to authorities.