Bodies exhumed from graves
2003-06-24 11:40
Umtata - The exhumation of bodies from a number of shallow graves found behind a church near Umtata in the Eastern Cape last week began on Tuesday.
A Sapa correspondent said the first body to be removed was that of an adult man, fully clothed. The bodies appeared not to have been buried in coffins.
The dead had all been buried in a garden plot, and vegetables such as spinach and cabbage had started growing on top of some of the graves. Initially eight graves were counted, but another found during Tuesday's exhumations brought the total to nine.
About 500 people from the Mandela informal settlement, where the church was situated, were watching the exhumations. The incident had aroused much emotion and there had been threats on Monday to set the entire church compound alight.
Twelve people appeared in Umtata district court on Monday in connection with the graves and were granted bail of R300 each. They faced charges of concealment of death and defeating the ends of justice.
The court postponed the hearing to Friday and ordered that the twelve not come anywhere near the compound, which was under police guard.
Three more people were arrested on Tuesday but have not appeared in court yet.
- SAPA