Investigation launched after a body disappeared from a Rustenburg based state mortuary

Health authorities in the North West have launched an investigation into the disappearance of a body from the Rustenburg-based state mortuary. 

The family of 43-year-old Gontse Raseale says the body disappeared as they were finalising arrangements to bury him in May this year.

This is after police informed the family that fingerprint records showed that a decomposed body found in the bush near Mogwase last year September was that of their missing relative Raseale from Mathibestad.

Health authorities in the North West have launched an investigation into the disappearance of a body from the Rustenburg-based state mortuary. The family of Gontse Raseale says the body disappeared as they were finalising arrangements to bury him in May this year. #sabcnews

— SAfm news (@SAfmnews) October 14, 2022

It is alleged that there could have been a mistake when about 30 people were given pauper’s burials after their bodies could not be identified. Others were moved to another state mortuary. 

“The DNA testing that was done through fingerprints did not match the deceased as Raseale or the first-degree relatives. In the pursuance to trace the remains of the deceased have confirmed not to be among the four others at Brits mortuary. The department will embark on an audit of the bodies and the identification process of unclaimed bodies buried by municipalities back in November 2021”, says Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane.