UNNATURAL DEATH PROCEDURE
(ACCIDENT/PUBLIC AREA/SUICIDE/HOMICIDE)

Steps to follow when a loved one died in
an Accident, due to Suicide,
in a Public Area or a Homocide

Whether natural or unnatural, follow these steps:

1. When a loved died due to any of the above, the SAPS or Law Enforcement will take control of the death scene.
2. The officer in charge will take down the contact details of the next of kin.
3. The Forensic Pathologist will remove the deceased body and be transported to the nearest State Mortuary, where they will perform a post mortem (to obtain the cause of death)
4. ENSURE THAT YOU OBTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
• SAPS CASE NUMBER
• CONTACT DETAILS OF THE POLICE STATION HANDLING THE CASE
• NAME AND SURNAME OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER
• DETAILS OF THE SPECIFIC STATE MORTURY WHERE THE BODY IS TAKEN TO
• SHOULD AN OFFICER INSIST ON TAKING THE ID BOOK/CARD OF THE DECEASED, ENSURE YOU HAVE HIS/HER FULL NAME, SURNAME, SAPS STATION NAME, FORCE NUMBER
5. Inform the family and friends of the death of your loved one
6. You will receive a call to go to the state mortury, to go and identify the body
7. Only once the post mortem has been completed, the state mortuary will inform you, to arrange with your preferred funeral director, to collect the body of the loved one at the given state mortuary and collect all needed documentation.
8. The funeral director will contact you in order to proceed with the funeral arrangements.