The funeral undertaker accused of producing fake cremation certificates and ashes to families after burying their loved ones as paupers is believed to have scammed hundreds of families in Cape Town via their policies.
Petrus Booysen of St Francis Funeral Services in Kraaifontein made his second appearance in the Kuils River Magistrate's Court on Friday, where he came face-to-face with the devastated families he is believed to have scammed.
Booysen, who was dressed neatly in a suit, is facing ten charges of fraud relating to burials.
The State is set to prove that Booysen allegedly buried people as paupers instead of cremating them, and that he also provided “fake” or fraudulent” cremation certificates to the families.
The ashes of the various bodies have since been confiscated by detectives and will undergo DNA testing to determine whether it is human or not.
It is further believed that Booysen scammed an additional 11 families and is yet to face charges relating to this while discreet investigations continue.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as court papers reveal that bank records were still outstanding, which will be vital in the State building its case against Booysen.
The State is awaiting a Section 205 application, which allows access to bank records that will form part of the bundle of evidence to prove alleged fraudulent transactions of his funeral business.
It is believed Booysen allegedly scammed over 200 people in Cape Town with funeral policies, which he collected on a monthly basis.
This portion of the investigation may not be discussed publicly as detectives continue with their investigations and are currently obtaining statements from witnesses and victims.
The matter was postponed to May 27 for further investigation and Booysen, who is currently out on bail, was warned to be back in the dock.
Investigators are also tracing the families of unclaimed bodies at State mortuaries, which is believed to belong to apparent victims of Booysen.
Earlier, the Western Cape Health Department revealed that there were close to 300 unclaimed bodies that were unidentified in State mortuaries.
The Cape Argus approached the department asking whether they were aware of the investigations into Booysen.
Nadia Ferreira, communications officer at the department, said it was best for the police and City officials to comment.
The City has since indicated it will not be commenting on the matter as police are investigating.
When police were approached about the separate portion of the investigation relating to unclaimed bodies, spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that fraud cases had been registered against Booysen, but did not comment further on the latest allegations.
Anita Momberg, who was one of the first families to come forward, said they were hoping for a breakthrough with a mass of charges against Booysen.
Momberg’s mother, Tersia Murray, was buried a pauper instead of being cremated in August last year.
Momberg, who was in the public gallery on Friday, turned to Booysen in the dock and said he would pay for what he did.
“Why must we prove that Petrus did what he did?
“We were told the City will pay half of the exhumation costs but that we must also make a contribution.
“The burden must lay on the State.
"Why must I go and speak with a lawyer and get legal advice?”
Torian Hendricks, a relative of Cento Pearce, 24, who is also an apparent victim of Booysen’s, said they were horrified and shocked and left speechless after facing him at court.
Pearce’s family had to conduct two funerals and his face had been left open inside of his coffin for more than six hours.
Earlier, Deon Solomon, National Funeral Directors Association of Southern African (NFDA) chairperson, said while they were made aware of Booysen’s case, they cautioned the public to be aware of fake or fraudulent undertakers who were not registered by an official body.
He said people should be wary of undertakers who did not present their certification documentation or have a designated office space.
During a telephonic interview with the Cape Argus last month, Booysen denied being operational and claimed he was sick and that he could not speak with the newspaper after being advised by his lawyer.
Booysen was arrested in January after five families came forward that their loved ones were buried as paupers at Welmoed Cemetery, Kuils River, and that they had received “fake” ashes which they believed could be non-human and no cremation certificates.
The families have since sought legal advice on the decision of the State and City whether the financial responsibility of DNA and exhumation would fall on them or that of the State.
Cape Argus