Piles of ash and plastic bags containing ash and bone fragments that could be the remains of between 700 and 800 people were discovered on a beach in East London over the weekend, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.
Superintendent Eddie Watson said the ash was first discovered by children playing on Leatches beach on the outskirts of East London on Sunday. The children later informed their parents, and one mother went to investigate on Monday.
The woman recognised the plastic bags as being similar to those provided by crematoriums for the ash remains of cremated bodies. ”The woman reported the discovery to the local newspaper who then contacted the police, who went to investigate.”
Watson said it looked like no attempt had been made to bury or hide the ash. There were several large heaps of ash and several plastic bags containing ash which had labels with names and codes on them.
”We believe some of the ash and bags may also have been washed away by the sea. It is most likely that the ash is of human origin, but until laboratory tests have been conducted on the samples, this cannot be confirmed.”
Watson said the ash would be sent to Cape Town for tests on Wednesday, and that an inquiry had been opened.
”Only once we have received the results of the test will we know what case to open,” he said. – Sapa