HIGH DEMAND LED TO 106 BODIES BEING STACKED UP
THE funeral company found to have been transporting more than 100 bodies to the Eastern Cape in a truck for cremations says its resources were stretched as a result of the high demand in the province.
While representatives of the company named Funerals are expected to meet health department officials today, police have registered an enquiry to look into the circumstances leading up to the incident.
The truck transporting at least 106 bodies en route to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape was stopped at a Somerset West weighbridge on Saturday.
It was flagged down on the N2 by traffic officials as part of routine control measures and was found to be overloaded, said Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell.
Officials immediately closed the weighbridge and handed the site over to the Western Cape health department and police for further investigation.
After their preliminary investigation on the scene, police released the truck with no arrests made.
Fredelene Knowles, spokesperson for the company that organised the transportation of the bodies, said: “The high demand has resulted in us hiring a truck every week and transporting the bodies to our private company in Gqeberha. It has been costly and hard because all crematoriums in the province are fully booked.
“Some funeral undertakers were told they can only get space later this month. Hopefully the health department’s meeting will assist us to find a way forward.”
As at 1pm on Friday, the Western Cape had 20 343 active Covid-19 infections, with the current 7-day moving average being 65 deaths per day.
Monray Adams, owner of Monray Royal Funerals said they were also experiencing difficulty with cremations.
“We are having to scramble for space because of the high demand and a waiting period of up to about a month for a booking at the crematorium. This affects families who are wishing to get the ashes of their loved ones soon.”
Adams said he had to make arrangements for six bodies in one week.
Provincial health department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said the transportation of bodies out of the province was not uncommon.
“Bodies are transported regularly based on the undertakers’ schedule and logistics. We don’t usually get involved but when there is an incident where traffic officials or other authorities deem it necessary for the department to get involved then our forensic team will go and investigate.
“The team investigated the Somerset West bodies which it was found were released from various sites to an undertaker to transport the bodies and that was all done in the normal processes. Not all of the corpses were Covid-19 related bodies, some were due to natural causes. It was found that all the paperwork to transport the bodies was in order and the undertaker was allowed to continue his journey,” said Van der Heever.
Meanwhile Eyodidi Funeral Undertakers owner Chris Stali said they were not experiencing delays in cremations.
“However we are still receiving a high number of burials which is stressful because of the shortage of coffins. Our coffins are not manufactured here in the province so I believe the shortage is a national problem.”
Mayco member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien said the city was coping with its burial and cremation numbers.
“We’ve increased capacity at our cremation facility to operate 24hrs/7 days a week. We are running at full capacity and are coping with the current demand. There is no backlog at the city’s crematorium.”