Strike will add to grieving families’ woes

THE three-day national shutdown by the funeral industry over a wide range of issues should not be allowed to deteriorate into violence, intimidation and anarchy.

The Unification Task Team (UTT) has vowed to ensure the removal of bodies from homes, state or private hospitals and burials would not happen for the duration of the strike.

The shutdown, spearheaded by the UTT, which represents funeral directors nationally, saw the shutdown of undertaking and crematorium services yesterday.

The list of grievances include, among others, calls for the dismantling of the tender system in the funeral industry, the formation of the Covid19 relief fund, and that the Road Accident Fund pay funeral parlours directly and a certificate of compliance should only be a requirement for the building of storage and management of human remains.

Funeral practitioners also want to be able to share facilities such as fridges to assist the smaller players, as it is prohibitively expensive for them to own their facilities.

While those responsible for the strike have promised peaceful protests, we have also seen threatening voice notes circulating on social media, saying the safety of those who will work during the strike cannot be guaranteed.

The constitutional right of funeral practitioners who choose to operate, including those whose Muslim clients want same day burials for cultural reasons, should not be violated.

Law enforcement agencies should be on high alert to guard against violence and intimidation of those who are not part of the strike.

The immediate resolution of the strike is of absolute necessity because its prolonged continuation is not in the best interest of the industry stakeholders.

It is encouraging KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has promised to facilitate dialogue between striking funeral practitioners and the relevant department.

Grieving families, who will have to keep the mortal remains of their loved ones in their homes, will be the ultimate losers.

A solution to this stalemate is needed as a matter of urgency.