Africa-Press – South-Africa. A person doesn’t often think about who will attend their funeral. Perhaps, there will be flowers, a few tears, and an array of eats afterwards.
Or perhaps, there won’t be anything at all.
This was the sad reality for more than 400 unidentified people who died poor and alone after loved ones or relatives failed to claim their bodies at Western Cape mortuaries.
As a result, the province provided pauper burials for them in the 2022/23 financial year.
According to Western Cape Health and Wellness spokesperson Byron la Hoe, a pauper’s funeral is reserved for a person who dies without being identified, as well as for families who want to bury a loved one but cannot afford a burial.
“In the South African context, we use the word pauper burial for a person who is buried without having [been] identified, and a destitute burial where the state buries a person with a name, on behalf of a family that cannot afford a burial. Certain criteria need to be met in this regard,” said La Hoe.
Approximately 404 people had pauper burials in the last year., according to the department.
It also said certain steps needed to be taken and there were also requirements that needed to be met for a person to have a pauper burial.
“All possible steps must have been followed to try to identify the deceased, namely having the fingerprints checked across all databases. The South African Police Services (SAPS) Investigative Officer does inquiries in the community regarding the person’s identity and following up on last known addresses,” La Hoe added.
He added that the Forensic Pathology Services (FFS) also perform procedures to search for implants and replacement parts to see if there are serial numbers that could assist in identifying the deceased.
“There are also full facial photographs taken [of] the deceased for our photo records. The identification of a deceased is the mandate of the SA police, of which FPS just facilitates the process on their behalf. SAPS may also include facial reconstruction or the publishing of photos in the media as an investigative tool,” La Hoe said.
The department explained that once the procedure is done, a DNA sample is completed for any potential family members who have inquiries. According to La Hoe, the responsibility of a pauper’s funeral, including its cost, is the responsibility of the municipality where the death occurred.
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