Lungu’s Body Remains in South Africa Amid Ongoing Investigations

Lungu’s Body Remains in South Africa Amid Ongoing Investigations

The remains of former President Edgar Lungu are still being kept in a South African state facility as investigations into the cause of his death continue. Authorities have maintained custody of the body while the South African Police Service carries out the probe.

The Zambian government obtained a court order to repatriate the body for a state funeral, but the process has been put on hold. Two Mountains Burial Services (PTY) Limited has indicated that the remains will not be returned to its care, as the body has since been moved to a state facility to allow investigations to proceed.

Meanwhile, the Lungu family secured an order from the South African Supreme Court of Appeal stopping the earlier ruling that allowed the transfer of the remains to the Zambian government. The late President died on June 5, 2025, in South Africa, and burial plans remain uncertain due to the ongoing legal dispute.