Graves desecrated, human remains stolen

In Lesotho, a series of grave desecrations and thefts of human remains have raised alarm among communities and authorities. Police reports indicate that graves in villages across Leribe District, including Peka, Ha Lechesa, Ha Lepapa, Ha Ntahli, Ha Polaki, and Ha Letsoela, have been disturbed, with bodies removed or decapitated.

Inspector Ntoa Malefane of the Criminal Investigations Division said a body was recently exhumed from a grave at Ha Lechesa, prompting concerns that the practice could spread. An official from the Chief’s Office in Ha Leburu, Molefi Mathola, confirmed that the grave was dug up and the corpse removed, though the circumstances remain unclear.

Earlier incidents include the exhumation of two corpses at Ha Lepapa, where heads were removed, and the discovery in 2023 of a 68‑year‑old grandmother’s grave at Ha Ntahli that had been tampered with. Police and Ministry of Health officials exhumed the body on 22 September 2023, finding the coffin lid open and the head missing. A headscarf believed to belong to the deceased was also found at the scene.

In August 2023, police arrested three men in Berea District for disturbing a grave at Ha Letsoela in Bela‑Bela. The suspects—Tsietsi Mojakisane (42), Tumo Nyaka (31), and Relutse Tefo (24)—were linked to the removal of a skull. One suspect, Koleba, was found with a drum containing a human skull, and he claimed to have dug the skull from a Bela‑Bela grave. Police said the trio worked together to exhume the skull and were subsequently arrested.

Chief Boshoane Peete reported that graves had also been dug up at Ha ’Matsoai, Moeaneng, and Bela‑Bela, though the perpetrators were unable to retrieve bodies due to difficulty. He condemned the practice and urged traditional healers who use human remains to stop, warning that such activities cause further suffering for bereaved families.

Traditional healer Thabo Maola said that while traditional medicine remains important, it should not be conflated with criminal activity. He urged authorities to investigate the demand for human remains rather than focusing solely on those who disturb graves.

Families affected by the desecrations have expressed deep distress. Bokang Futho, whose brother’s grave was disturbed in Bela‑Bela, said the incidents highlight how society treats its dead and the fear that even burial sites are no longer safe. Mamokete Tlapane, a counsellor in Leribe, emphasized the need for stronger investigations, better protection of burial sites, and a clear distinction between legitimate traditional practices and criminal acts.

Police have called on the public to reject beliefs that disturbing graves or taking human remains can bring wealth or protection. They also urged families to regularly check and maintain graves to detect interference early.

Under Lesotho’s Public Health Order 1970, exhumation is regulated by law. Section 74 generally prohibits the exhumation or removal of human remains without a prescribed permit, allowing only judicially ordered exhumations for

Article source: sundayexpress.co.ls | Image credit: 6ABC