Boikhutso residents demand answers over damaged graves

Families in Boikhutso township in Lichtenburg say they can no longer locate their relatives’ graves after the North West Department of Health exhumed 11 graves in 2023, claiming it was searching for the remains of another man, Stephen Makinye of Springbokpan.

Residents allege the exhumation disrupted their ancestors’ resting places and left tombstones damaged, making it difficult for families to perform traditional rituals.

A resident, Mmakhumo Moja ,52, said the department made a serious mistake by assuming the identified graves belonged to unknown people only.

She said the department also exhumed both of her parents without informing the family.

“We are struggling every time we have to do our traditional rituals  at our ancestors’ graves since the Makinye family and the department of health came here and disrupted our people’s graves”, said Moja.

Moja said it is painful and confusing when families attempt to clean the graves because they no longer know which ones belong to them.

Residents also complained about damaged tombstones and questioned who should be held responsible for the damage.

Stephen Makinye was admitted to Thusong Hospital. A few days later, when his family went to check on him, he was nowhere to be found.

The family was told Makinye had gone missing from his hospital bed. Months later, his badly charred body was discovered behind the hospital buildings after gardeners burned overgrown grass.

In 2023, the department spent R221 000 to exhume 11 graves at Boikhutso in the hope of locating Makinye’s remains, but the search yielded no results.

Another resident, Kelebogile Moepeng ,71, said she no longer knows where her parents’ graves are.

She asked the Health Department to assist by exhuming and performing DNA tests so families can identify where their loved ones are buried.

“My husband’s grave was number three, but ever since the department’s actions, the grave name was number five, so can the department please come forward to see how best they can assist in this matter”, she said.

Meanwhile, the department said it cannot accept responsibility for damage to graves that were not part of the identified exhumation sites.

Department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said the exhumation process was conducted lawfully. “Based on the factual observations and records available, the Department is not in a position to accept responsibility for damages to graves that were not part of the identified graves. The exhumation process was conducted lawfully, respectfully, and in full compliance with all prescribed procedures.

“Importantly, the exhumation of unknown bodies was carried out in full view of all relevant stakeholders who were present on the day, including representatives of the community. All those in attendance can attest to the fact that only the 11 graves that had been officially identified for exhumation were touched. At no stage were graves belonging to community members affected during the process,” he said.

Lekgethwane added that the department was already aware, before the exhumation, of several damaged graves in the cemetery.  He said some were located far from the excavation site.

He said it was also observed that several tombstones had long been damaged, had fallen over, or were already unidentifiable prior to the start of the exhumation.

The department stated that it remains committed to engaging openly with the community and all stakeholders, and continues to treat matters related to the deceased and their families with dignity, sensitivity, and respect.

The department said it plans to visit the graveyard and affected families later this month.