The South African National Parks (SANParks) has rejected claims by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that remains in a graveyard in Bushbuckridge are those of poachers killed in the Kruger National Park.

The EFF in Bushbuckridge had claimed that the bodies were suspected to be those of rhino poachers killed around 2013 and 2014 and buried at Saselani cemetery.

The Mpumalanga health department dismissed the claim by the EFF two days ago‚ and said the 12 corpses whose relatives could not be traced for four years had been buried in a mass funeral on March 12.

SANParks also dismissed the EFF allegations‚ and said they were devoid of substance.

SANParks said the Mpumalanga health department had already clarified that the remains of the persons who could not be identified were given pauper burials in line with standard government protocols.

It said pauper burials were common practice around the world when bodies were unclaimed from the state for lengthy periods of time.

This included people who died of both natural and unnatural causes.

“This reckless statement by the EFF should be rejected with the contempt that it deserves‚” Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said.

Molewa said the communities of Bushbuckridge were playing a leading role in working with SANParks to stamp out rhino poaching inside the Kruger National Park.

“We view the statement by the EFF as an attempt to stir up the communities of Bushbuckridge‚ who are helping in SANParks’ efforts to fight poaching against the KNP.”