A family from Nyanga is demanding answers regarding the remains of their relative, Freeman Xola Ngcozela, who was interred as a pauper without their consent or knowledge. The dispute centres on the identity of the remains currently held by the state, with the family questioning official police findings following an inconclusive DNA testing process.
According to a SAPS Western Cape media release, Ngcozela’s body was discovered in an informal settlement bordering the Epping Market on 19 August 2024. Police stated that he was later identified through fingerprint analysis on 1 December 2025, but the family only discovered he had been buried when they visited the investigating officer on 14 April 2025.
We could positively identify him from a photograph shown, but the DNA doesn’t match the person buried.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Bongile Ngcozela expressed deep frustration, noting that they dispute the police records and have faced repeated roadblocks in claiming their relative. The family denies certain police claims regarding their relatives, stating they were never properly notified of the need for specific DNA samples and contesting the accuracy of the investigation.
Captain FC van Wyk, spokesperson for the Western Cape police, maintained that the state followed standard protocols after the initial identification. He stated that the investigation included multiple attempts to reconcile the family’s biological markers with the remains found at the scene.
The family brought two brothers and both times it was negative.
Pauper burials occur when bodies remain unclaimed, allowing the state to dispose of remains after a mandatory waiting period. This incident highlights the profound distress caused when communication between authorities and grieving families breaks down, particularly when forensic evidence contradicts personal recognition.
While the family remains convinced of the individual’s identity, the negative DNA results have created a legal and procedural impasse. As of 21 September 2026, the dispute over the status of the remains continues to leave the family without formal closure.
The exact location of the interred remains and the potential for a fresh forensic review remain unknown, and Cape Flats News will check in with the investigating unit at SAPS again next week.