Stink over ‘illegal’ Centane funeral home
WHILE unable to verify the source of a foul smell said to emanate from a funeral parlour in central Centane, municipal officials have established that it is operating illegally.
After the Daily Dispatch published an article raising concerns from Centane residents about the smell and the proximity of Mnzwana Funerals to a supermarket and braai place, Mnquma local municipality and Amathole district municipality (ADM) dispatched their environmental health inspectors to investigate.
Their two-day inspection revealed that despite being granted a business operating licence by Mnquma, the parlour did not have the required certificate of competence from ADM.
ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makunga said funeral parlours had to comply with regulations on the management of human remains, that specified conditions like refrigerated storage space and a proper drainage system to process and safely dispose of water used in the cleaning of corpses.
“Upon our arrival at the funeral parlour, we found that there was no septic tank and no running water; and bodies were being stored in a refrigerator,” he said.
“According to our knowledge, Mnquma local municipality says they did not give the go-ahead for construction of the parlour,” he said.
Makunga said legal steps would be taken to remedy the situation.
Mnquma spokesman Loyiso Mpalantshane said: “The municipality takes the wellness of its citizens very seriously and can never allow a situation where residents are subjected to unnecessary distress due to alleged undignified disposal or storage of the departed.
“However, we will continue to give support and guidance to business owners on various issues of legislation relating to operating their businesses.”
Despite initially having said that his funeral parlour business was certified to operate, when co-owner of Mnzwana Funerals, Michael Mnzwana, was contacted by the Daily Dispatch, he sang a different tune when again contacted.
He would not confirm whether the business had a certificate of compliance. Mnzwana Funerals has been in business since 2006.
In a previous interview with the Dispatch, Mnzwana claimed they were approved to store up to six bodies.
Despite numerous attempts, his wife and business partner, Nobubele Mnzwana, could not be reached for additional comment. —