A BODY of a 12-year-old boy was exhumed in KwaNdengezi after it was allegedly buried illegally last week Sunday. This was revealed by the Department of Social Development (DSD) when they commended the community for alerting the department about the incident. 

According to the department, the body of the cerebral palsy boy was discovered when Deputy Minister Hendreitta Bogopane-Zulu responded to the call from the community. 

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“Community members raised the alarm with the deputy minister, which prompted her to travel to the province and make arrangements that the exhumation process be done. It is alleged that the boy passed away last Saturday after falling ill for three days, but never received medical attention. The deceased resided with his stepmother and father,” said the department.

The department further reported that the boy’s death was not registered with the Department of Home Affairs.

DSD MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza expressed her condolences to the family for their loss. She further expressed her concern that the family did not seek help even though the child’s health was deteriorating.  She said the quick burial of the boy raised a lot of concerns. She said she found solace in the fact that the police were involved when the child’s body was exhumed today. 

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“We hope that since the child has been exhumed, a post-mortem will be conducted and light will be shed on what led to the death. We are grateful to the deputy minister and all people who played a role in ensuring that the matter reaches authorities,” she said. 

 Khoza dispatched a team of social workers to provide psycho-social support to the family until the funeral takes place. The search and rescue team exhumed the body, and it was taken to the Pinetown mortuary.