City vows to bring fraudulent undertaker to book

The City of Cape Town has vowed to bring undertaker Petrus Booysen to book after he allegedly defrauded several families by burying their loved ones as paupers, issuing fake cremation certificates and admitted they do not know where one is buried.

The Cape Argus can exclusively reveal that the city’s records are unable to locate the burial of the latest victim’s relative who has come forward after horrific stories broke in January.

In a report shared with the newspaper, the daughter of Glenda Amelia Muller, Monica Muller, said she is praying that she can finally have peace knowing where her mother’s (Glenda) remains are.

Muller's parents died last year and she is one of more than twelve families  who utilised the services of St Francis Funeral home in Kraaifontein under the name of Booysen.

The families have since opened criminal cases of fraud and forgery against Booysen.

According to the report written by a senior compliance official at the City, which was shared by Muller with the newspaper, her father, Jacobus Muller who died in June 2024, burial information could be located while her mother’s remains unaccounted for - and that the family were issued fake cremation certificates by Booysen.

“I searched the Crematoria records and confirmed that her father Mr Jacobus Johannes Muller who passed away on June 24 was cremated on July 22, 2024. There was no record of her mother Mrs Glenda Amelia Muller at  the Crematoria. Glenda Amelia Muller had passed away on July 31 2024. I conducted a search of the cemetery bookings for the City of Cape Town and could not locate any record of her mother," the report reads.

“In March 2025, while released on bail, Booysen handed two cremation certificates to Monica Muller.

“I took the certificates  to the crematoria for vetting. I established that the two certificates were forgeries as set out below.”

Booysen was arrested earlier this year after several families came forward that they were issued fraudulent cremation certificates and that their relatives were either buried paupers and others could not be located.

While appearing at the Kuils River Magistrates’ Court, the case was provisionally withdrawn due to a delay of an application to the Western Cape High Court for exhumation of the bodies including DNA testing.

The families then approached the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) to investigate the City's handling, including the role of the police and the National Prosecuting Authority.

PPSA confirmed they were probing it while Booysen remained mum.

The City’s Recreation and Parks Department has since vowed to bring Booysen to book.

 “The certificates were forgeries and were supplied to the family by Mr Petrus Booysen from St Francis Funeral services," the City said.

 “The family reported a case of forgery and uttering to the SAPS relating to this.

 “The City condemns these unscrupulous acts and in the interest of justice and proper closure to the affected families, the City will support all relevant authorities to bring the perpetrator to book. 

“The City awaits any court order or directive from SAPS for the exhumations to take place as this process can’t be done unilaterally. Funds will be made available to assist with the process that needs to take place once the appropriate authorities authorise exhumation and DNA testing.

“Further details will be discussed with the affected families at the appropriate time. We implore the relevant authorities to do everything possible to speed up the process in the interest of justice.”

Muller said she became suspicious of her parent’s burials and began her own investigation which unearthed her worst nightmare: "I did further investigation and I was informed by Maitland Crematorium and official of the city that the cremation certificates were fraudulent, and they then provided me with the correct certificate for my dad on May 29.

“I was suspicious as soon as the official informed me that my mother’s remains could not be located.

“They confirmed that the (burial) process was electronically completed and the death certificate and identity document of my mother had been received.

“During the official’s investigation this information was nowhere to be found, however, she requested that I meet with her, she then confirmed that the electronic process was not completed as she would have been able to locate my mothers remains."

Anita Momberg, one of the affected relatives said the City was to be held accountable: "That is the reason now why the City is reaching out to the families because they are under pressure as the public protector is investigating."

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