CTOWN BONES 'WERE PAUPERS'.

Burned bones discovered in barrels on an industrial site in Cape Town come from paupers whose bodies were disposed of "quite legally", a crematorium operator said on Friday. The find caused a stir, partly because it was coupled to reports that bodies were dumped into barrels of acid on the site to dissolve flesh. Police say they are investigating possible charges related to the law on human remains, and dumping of hazardous materials. The bones -- which police say were in two barrels -- were found in a disused shed in the Kraaifontein industrial area, along with containers of sulphuric and other types of acid. Chris Bellingan, whose company Bellingan Engineering makes crematoriums, told Sapa on Friday that his firm contracted to Roni's Funeral Services three years ago to dispose of pauper bodies from hospitals. The company set up a crematorium on the Kraaifontein site, but was forced to shut down the operation and remove the crematorium after about six months when the municipality won a zoning interdict. "Unfortunately one drum of ashes must have remained there," he said. Disposal of the ashes was Roni's responsibility, not his firm's, he said. "It's normally just taken to a rubbish tip. What can you do with bones and ash?" Earlier, African National Congress MP Pierre-Jean Gerber said he had been told by labourers on the site that body parts were put in acid to eat away the flesh, and that the bones were processed after this had been done. But Bellingan rejected this as "just sensationalism", and said anyone ...