All charges against a couple who were forced to dig up their own child's body were dropped in the Koppies Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Maria Mnisi and Phineas Johnson stood accused with their former employer Fanie Hyman of violating a grave.

Hyman allegedly forced Mnisi and Johnson to dig up the coffin of their one month old son John Mnisi on Hyman's farm after they had apparently resigned from his employment.

Hyman allegedly then drove them and the coffin to Pretoria and left them at a scrapyard.

The charge of violating a grave is still pending against Hyman who will appear in court again on 4 June.

The State indicated that it might bring additional charges.

Earlier, around a thousand protesters gathered in front of the Koppies Magistrate's Court in the Northern Free State.

Protesters said the incident angered them.

"You don't belong to civil society, Fanie," one of the posters read.

Another read : "Why do you tamper with an innocent soul?"

Sapa