Undertaker Appears in Court Amidst Growing Scandal

Petrus Booysen, of St Francis Funeral Services in Kraaifontein, recently appeared in the kuils River Magistrates Court for the second time, confronted by grieving families who allege he defrauded them. Initial reports suggest a KAAPSE undertaker is believed to have scammed hundreds of families, indicating the potential scale of the alleged deception.

Booysen faces ten charges of fraud related to the burial of victims. Authorities suspect he may have scammed an additional 11 families, with investigations ongoing to determine the full extent of the alleged crimes. Booysen is facing ten charges of fraud relating to the burial of victims, highlighting the seriousness of the accusations.

Bank Records Key to State’s Case

The case hinges on access to Booysen’s bank records, which investigators believe will reveal the extent of the alleged fraudulent transactions. 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, suggesting that the available evidence only scratches the surface of the potential wrongdoing.

The state is awaiting a Section 205 submission to access these records. It is alleged that Booysen scammed over 200 people in Cape Town through funeral policies collected monthly. Due to the ongoing inquiry and witness statements being collected, this aspect of the case remains confidential, protecting the integrity of the inquiry and the privacy of potential victims.

Postponement and Unclaimed Bodies

The court has postponed the matter to May 27, 2025, for further investigation. Booysen, currently out on bail, must reappear in court. Investigators are also working to identify families of unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries, suspecting they may be victims of booysen’s alleged scheme.The matter was postponed to 27 May 2025 for further investigation and Booysen, who is currently out on bail, was warned to be back in the dock, indicating the ongoing nature of the legal proceedings.

The Western Cape Health Department previously reported nearly 300 unidentified and unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries, raising concerns that some of these individuals may have been clients of Booysen who were improperly handled.

victims Speak Out: The Financial and emotional Toll

Anita Momberg, whose mother Tersia Murray was buried as a pauper instead of being cremated as planned, has come forward to share her experience. She expressed frustration over being asked to cover half the costs of exhuming bodies and conducting DNA tests. 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, highlighting the financial burden placed on grieving families.

Momberg believes the State should bear the burden of proving the fraud. The burden must lay on the State. Why must I go and speak with a lawyer and get legal advice? she questioned, emphasizing the emotional and logistical challenges faced by victims.

Torian Hendricks, a relative of Cento Pearce, 24, another alleged victim, described the family’s horror and shock upon facing Booysen in court. Pearce’s family had to hold two funerals, and his face was exposed in the coffin for over six hours, compounding their grief and trauma.

Booysen’s Denial

In a previous interview, Booysen denied being operational, claiming illness and citing legal advice for his silence, further complicating the narrative and leaving many questions unanswered.

The Impact on Families: A Summary

The alleged fraud has had a devastating impact on families, both financially and emotionally. The table below summarizes the key issues: