Apply for exhumation

You can apply to have a body exhumed following the process below.

You can apply to have a body exhumed following the process below.

How to apply

You will need to provide:

certified copy of medical certificate detailing time and manner of death
written proof of permission from relative of the deceased concerned
approval from the municipality and cemetery to have the body exhumed
if a religious body is in control of the cemetery where the deceased is buried, then written permission from that religious body must be obtained

Step 1: Download and complete the Application for Exhumation of Human Remains, which you can find in the document downloads below.

Step 2: You can submit your application via post to:

Director: City Health
PO Box 2815
Cape Town
8000.

Alternatively, you can email your application to contact.us@capetown.gov.za.

For more information, visit the City Health Department page.