An online petition to bury alleged fraudster undertaker Petrus Booysen’s business has been launched by one of the affected families.
Booysen of St Francis Funeral Services in Kraaifontein is facing several counts of fraud and is expected to make his next appearance at the Kuils River Magistrate's Court next Friday.
Several families have come forward to accuse Booysen of mishandling the funerals of their loved ones.
City officials, along with the police, have confirmed that Booysen buried six individuals as paupers at Welmoed Cemetery in Kuils River, having led the families to believe that he had cremated them.
In some cases, he even gave them fake ashes.
While out on bail, another family came forward last week, with claims that Booysen had swindled them as well.
He told them that he could not bury their loved one, Cento Pearce, 24, on the day of his funeral because the hole was not prepared, the paperwork and his identity book were cut.
And ahead of court appearance, Nicolene Cushy, the daughter of deceased Johannes Francois Jacobus Nel is taking a stand.
Cushy and her family kept what they believed to be their father’s ashes until seeing another family accuse Booysen of similar wrongdoing.
And she now is calling on the court to stop Booysen for good in a petition titled: Revoking the bail and ceasing the operation of Petrus Booysen as an undertaker”.
Sixty people have since signed the petition.
Cushy said via her petition: “We, the undersigned, are writing to express our outrage and demand immediate action regarding the actions of Petrus Booysen, an undertaker responsible for the fraudulent and unethical handling of human remains.
"We call for the revocation of his bail and for him to be permanently barred from operating as an undertaker.
She said they had the following request at his next court appearance: “We demand that Petrus Booysen’s bail be revoked immediately, we request that he be permanently barred from operating as an undertaker or conducting any business in the funeral industry.
"We urge the relevant authorities to launch a full investigation into his actions, ensuring that no other families fall victim to his deceit.”
Last week, Deon Solomon of the National Funeral Directors Association of Southern Africa (NFDA), said they were made aware of Booysen’s case, and cautioned the public to beware of fake or fraudulent undertakers who were not registered by an official body.
Daily Voice