A municipality in South Africa says it will charge its staff members for misconduct after pictures surfaced on social media showing them sitting and sleeping on top of graves.

The workers are from the municipal's parks department - which is responsible for the cleaning of parks and public facilities, according to local media reports.

It is unclear when the pictures were taken.

In a statement, Msunduzi municipality, in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, said it was aware of what it termed “disturbing photographs”.

"The municipality will not condone such behaviour and can confirm that processes are in place for the implicated employees to be charged for misconduct and for putting the municipality in disrepute," it said.