/ 15 November 2007

‘Used’ coffins found in Soshanguve home

Eighteen coffins, suspected to have been stolen from graves, were found in an empty home in Soshanguve, Pretoria, the Sowetan reported on Thursday.

Police raided the abandoned home on Wednesday, removing the coffins, which seem to have been dug up from graves, the report said.

The coffins, for children and adults, were soiled, chipped and had damaged handles.

However, police said no incidents of dug-up graves had been reported in the area recently.

Police spokesperson Captain Solly Marindi told the Sowetan that it appeared the coffins were refurbished and sold again. It was not clear who the owners of the abandoned home were.

Neighbours told the newspaper that the coffins were delivered on Sunday by a woman and two men in a white bakkie.

Police could not immediately be reached for further comment on Thursday. — Sapa