IT IS KNOWN that coffins are stolen and sold secondhand.
But this coffin thief was caught red-handed.
AND IF COPS HADN’T ARRIVED IN TIME, RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE BURIED HIM ALIVE!
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Furious residents, who live near the Avalon Cemetery in Soweto, had to be restrained by police otherwise the young man would have found himself in shallow grave.
Residents told Daily Sun they wanted to send a message to thieves planning to follow in this man’s footsteps.
Matilda Ngobeni (33) said she saw angry residents trying bury the man.
“We asked ourselves why a man would be stupid enough to try this in broad daylight at a busy graveyard,” she said.
“If it wasn’t for the police, he’d be buried alive and no one would save him. People were so angry they wanted him to learn his lesson.”
She said his attitude didn’t help.
“He didn’t seem to be sorry,” she said.
“At first he denied that he was trying to steal a coffin, then he cried and said he was trying to make a living.”
Sizwe Sikhakhane (39) said he wasn’t surprised when he heard about the thief.
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“We know coffins are stolen from graves and then sold. Some families even tell us that they buy coffins for R2 000 or R3 000 because they were used,” said Sizwe.
Elizabeth Langa (48) said she wished the police didn’t arrive so residents could deal with the man.
“I’m disgusted that people don’t respect the dead anymore,” she said.
“We used to respect the cemetery and we were scared to even point at graves. It seems like now people are not scared and can come and do as they please.”
She said she buried her mum at Avalon 11 years ago and she was hurt and angry when she heard that someone was tampering with the graves.
“I wish they had moered him buried him and left him for a night,” said Elizabeth.
Kholekile Mnguni (37) said this man has been beaten before for stealing in Klipspruit West. She said when she arrived she recognised his face.
“Doesn’t he ever learn?” she asked.
City Parks spokeswoman, Jenny Moodley said the man was beaten up and then placed in a shallow, unused hole as punishment.
“He was found by security in the morning and police and paramedics were called to help him,” said Moodley.
She said the Avalon Cemetery is over 180 hectares big and there has been a few holes in the fencing due to ongoing theft.
“We appeal to the community to respect the burial ground and to refrain from criminal acts,” she said.
The Gauteng SAPS spokesman, Captain Mavela Masondo said police were called by a security guard about the discovery of a 31-year-old man at Avalon Cemetery in Klipspruit West.
“The victim was assaulted and his feet bound with shoelaces. A grave was dug and he was buried up to his lower body,” said Masondo. He also told Daily Sun that the man alleges to have been buried from 1 August. “Paramedics were called and the victim was transported to the hospital for treatment,” he said.
to be restrained by police otherwise the young man would have found himself in shallow grave.
Residents told Daily Sun they wanted to send a message to thieves planning to follow in this man’s footsteps.
Matilda Ngobeni (33) said she saw angry residents trying bury the man.
“We asked ourselves why a man would be stupid enough to try this in broad daylight at a busy graveyard,” she
“If it wasn’t for the police, he’d be buried alive and no one would save him. People were so angry they wanted him to learn his lesson.”
She said his attitude didn’t help.
“He didn’t seem to be sorry,” she said.
“At first he denied that he was trying to steal a coffin, then he cried and said he was trying to make a living.”
Sizwe Sikhakhane (39) said he wasn’t surprised when he heard about the thief.
“We know coffins are stolen from graves and then sold. Some families even tell us that they buy coffins for R2 000 or R3 000 because they were used,” said Sizwe.
Elizabeth Langa (48) said she wished the police didn’t arrive so residents could deal with the man.
“I’m disgusted that people don’t respect the dead anymore,” she said.
“We used to respect the cemetery and we were scared to even point at graves. It seems like now people are not scared and can come and do as they please.”
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She said she buried her mum at Avalon 11 years ago and she was hurt and angry when she heard that someone was tampering with the graves.
“I wish they had moered him buried him and left him for a night,” said Elizabeth.
Kholekile Mnguni (37) said this man has been beaten before for stealing in Klipspruit West. She said when she arrived she recognised his face.
“Doesn’t he ever learn?” she asked.
City Parks spokeswoman, Jenny Moodley said the man was beaten up and then placed in a shallow, unused hole as punishment.
“He was found by security in the morning and police and paramedics were called to help him,” said Moodley.
She said the Avalon Cemetery is over 180 hectares big and there has been a few holes in the fencing due to ongoing theft.
“We appeal to the community to respect the burial ground and to refrain from criminal acts,” she said.
The Gauteng SAPS spokesman, Captain Mavela Masondo said police were called by a security guard about the discovery of a 31-year-old man at Avalon Cemetery in Klipspruit West.
“The victim was assaulted and his feet bound with shoelaces. A grave was dug and he was buried up to his lower body,” said Masondo.
He also told Daily Sun that the man alleges to have been buried from 1 August. “Paramedics were called and the victim was transported to the hospital for treatment,” he said.
