Deadly strike
Home Affairs deputy minister intervenes in funeral parlour protest
DEPUTY Minister of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Njabulo Nzuza reportedly intervened in an impasse between Mtubatuba-based funeral parlours at the local DHA offices.
This after empty coffins were placed outside the Home Affairs offices in Mtubatuba as part of protest action by local funeral parlours on Thursday morning.
Home Affairs staff were locked outside as the protesters used their own locks to prevent the employees from entering the premises.
There were reported acts of violence and intimidation by the protesters, and police were present to monitor the situation.
The funeral parlours demanded ‘designation letters’, which they claimed were supposed to be issued to them since 2017, to permit them to obtain death certificates on behalf of their clients.
The protesters said, until about three weeks ago, they were able to obtain death certificates on behalf of their clients, using designation letters of their local counterparts, but have since been told they can no longer do so.
This, they claim, is an instruction from the district manager of Home Affairs.
DHA district manager Nosipho
Shandu would not respond to this claim, however, she said she was aware of the problem.
“We have had several meetings to discuss this issue and find solutions.
“However, some conditions, which cannot be changed, need to be met with regards to the law of the registration of death as implemented in 2017," said
Shandu.
She added that the matter was now being attended to by the department from district and provincial, up to national level.
"Certain processes need to be finalised by the department with compliance of the funeral parlours.
"Death registration and designation for death registration is the competency of the national department," said Shandu.
Speaking as the protesters packed up and readied to disperse, Mr Ntombela, on behalf of the protesters, said Nzuza had instructed that the protesters' files with the local DHA be immediately sent to the national office.
Ntombela said the protesters would return to their site if the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction.
"The fault is not on our side, they have been sitting with the files since 2017,"