**MAHIKENG, NORTH WEST —** The Mahikeng Local Municipality has carried out a dignified indigent burial for eight unclaimed and unidentified bodies, ensuring that the deceased received a respectful final resting place despite efforts to locate their families proving unsuccessful.
The burial took place on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, under the leadership of the municipality’s Community Services Directorate. The initiative was conducted in collaboration with several government institutions, including the Department of Health, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the Department of Home Affairs.
According to municipal officials, authorities made extensive efforts to identify the deceased and trace their next of kin before the burials were conducted. Working alongside SAPS and the relevant government departments, officials carried out various checks and tracing procedures in an attempt to establish the identities of the deceased and locate their relatives.
However, after these efforts failed to produce any information that could lead to their families, the municipality proceeded with the burials in accordance with its social and legal responsibilities.
The municipality said the burial process was conducted in strict compliance with applicable national legislation, municipal bylaws and established Standard Operating Procedures. Officials also emphasised that the unidentified and unclaimed status of the deceased did not diminish the dignity and respect afforded to them.
Each person was laid to rest with care and in accordance with human rights principles. The municipality said the ceremony was intended to ensure that the deceased were not forgotten and that they received a final resting place marked by dignity and decency.
As part of the municipality’s record-keeping procedures, details of each grave, together with the relevant SAPS case reference numbers, have been permanently recorded. The information has been entered into the official Indigent Burial Register, which is maintained by the Community Services Directorate.
The records will remain available for future reference in the event that relatives or other family members come forward with information that could assist in identifying the deceased.
The municipality has also appealed to members of the public who may have information about missing persons in the area. Families who have been searching for missing relatives are encouraged to contact the relevant authorities if they believe their loved one could be among those buried.
Members of the public can contact the Mahikeng Local Municipality’s Community Services Directorate on **018 389 0111**. Information can also be reported or enquiries made at the nearest SAPS station, or through the national police emergency number, **10111**.
The Mahikeng Local Municipality extended its condolences to the families of the deceased, particularly those who may still be unaware of the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The municipality said the burials serve as a reminder of the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect, even when their identities and families remain unknown.
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