Legs of corpse cut off to fit coffin

A GRAHAMSTOWN funeral parlour owner, who allegedly forced two undertakers to cut the legs off a body because  it would not fit into the coffin, is facing charges of mutilating a corpse.

The grisly details came to light when one of the undertakers, who has battled sleepless nights and nightmares after allegedly being ordered to cut the man’s legs off with an angle grinder, finally came clean.

Siyakubonga Funeral Services owner Ronel Mostert was arrested and appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court recently after the body of Thamsanqa  Tshali was exhumed.

The exhumation order  had been given to police by the Health Department  in November last year. Forensic experts said the remains – with visible burn marks on the bones – confirmed the legs had been sawn off.

Mostert was subsequently arrested after the National Prosecuting Authority  reviewed the evidence and decided last month to charge her. The undertakers claimed Mostert had threatened to fire them if they did not cut off Tshali’s legs.