Eastern Cape Police Arrest Two Men in Nqanqarhu Transporting Bodies in Panel Van
SAPS officers in Nqanqarhu (Maclear) intercepted a Mercedes-Benz panel van containing two bodies in plastic bags outside a supermarket, underscoring statutory rules on moving human remains.
By FIPSA Admin
Summary of Inquiry & Key Findings
Arrest of two suspects in Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) on June 12, 2026, following a police tip-off.
Two bodies discovered in the back of a grey Mercedes-Benz panel van wrapped in plastic bags.
Suspects claimed they were transporting remains between funeral parlours in Cape Town, Gqeberha, and KwaBhaca.
SAPS reiterated statutory criteria for vehicles licensed to convey human remains across municipal borders.
The Interception in Nqanqarhu Town Centre
On Friday, June 12, 2026, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear), Eastern Cape, acted on intelligence regarding a suspicious vehicle transporting human remains toward KwaBhaca.
Officers located the grey Mercedes-Benz panel van parked outside a local supermarket. A search of the vehicle uncovered two deceased bodies wrapped in white plastic bags in the cargo area. Police immediately took the 38-year-old driver and a 24-year-old passenger into custody.
SAPS Statement: Multi-Provincial Route
Police confirmed the driver claimed to be moving the bodies from Cape Town to mortuaries in KwaBhaca, while a third body collected from Gqeberha had reportedly already been offloaded prior to the interception.
Legal Requirements for Conveyance of Human Remains
The incident drew significant national attention to the regulations governing the cross-border transport of human remains. Under Regulation R363 (Regulations Relating to the Management of Human Remains), individuals and companies conveying bodies must meet strict statutory criteria:
Statutory Conveyance Criteria Under GN R363
Vehicles must be dedicated for funeral conveyance, fitted with an airtight, leak-proof, washable stainless steel or impervious deck.
No human remains may be transported without a valid burial order (Form BI-1663) or transit permit issued by a designated registrar.
Bodies must be sealed in a coffin or approved body containment unit during transit on public roads.
Drivers must carry verified proof of origin, destination parlour COC, and authorization from the legal next-of-kin.
Published by FIPSA Admin
Compiled for public education and industry reference in terms of the National Health Act (GN R363) and statutory funeral regulations in South Africa.Related Industry Dispatches
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