KEETMANSHOOP: A casual worker employed by the Keetmanshoop Municipality made a shocking discovery on Wednesday when he came across what is thought to be human bones while digging a new grave.

The worker had been digging a new grave on what was supposed to be as-yet-unused land when he came across bones and pieces of wood suspected to be parts of a coffin about one metre deep under the surface of the ground at the Keetmanshoop Cemetery.

The cemetery is located in front of the traffic department and fire brigade offices, next to the road going to the Tseiblaagte and Kronlein townships.

Some residents suspect that the piece of land which the cemetery is currently situated on was previously also used as a cemetery.

The Chief Technician at the Keetmanshoop Municipality, Jozua Dejay, however, told Nampa at the site that as far as he knows, the land was used as a car parking lot.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol)’s Crime Investigations’ Co-ordinator for the Karas Region, Rudolf Isaak was also present at the cemetery, but declined to comment on the matter.

Asked whether the police would be conducting forensic examinations on the bones, he said he would have to investigate the matter as it is “a sensitive story.”

The bones were gathered by municipal officials, who said investigations would be done to determine whom they belong to.