Outcry over city’s burial, cremation rule

Paid-up utility bills needed for bookings

FAMILIES wanting a burial or cremation at a municipal facility will now have to produce their utility bill or that of the deceased before a booking can be finalised.

The rule came into effect on February1 and is being facilitated by the Sizakala Customer Service Unit, according to the eThekwini Municipality’s head of parks, recreation and culture, Thembinkosi Ngcobo.

Furious undertakers are claiming that if the utility bill is in arrears, families will not be given a burial or cremation booking until the account is paid in full.

The eThekwini Municipality’s chief financial officer, Krish Kumar, denied the undertakers’ claims.

“There are two ways of applying for the burial site – through the funeral parlour, or families can do it themselves.

“Whoever does the booking will be liable for the service rendered.

“The applicant is required to produce a valid utility bill of the person accountable for payment, before a booking is made.

“The payment of the burial site will be done even if the account is in arrears.

“The funeral parlours are misinterpreting what is being said. We are just attempting to secure payment for the burial or cremation.”

When called the Sizakala Customer Service Unit, under the guise of querying about a burial booking, a supervisor explained that families were required to produce a recent utility bill and identity document of the deceased.

This would then be checked before a booking could be made, the service agent said.

She said money generally paid to undertakers for burials (between R2 085 and R2730) and cremations (R670) would now be paid directly to the centre.

The agent added that if a family’s 10-year grave site lease period was completed, they would need to pay R1000 for a second lease.

She could not explain what the consequences would be if an account was in arrears as she had not dealt with such a situation.

Undertakers have slammed the decision, saying it was insensitive to mourners.

Johan Rousseau, from the Funeral Industry Reformed Association, said they were aware of the change and were consulting with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to regulate the industry.

“The funeral industry is not regulated and every province has its own rules, which are constantly changing. We have been lobbying for an ombudsman who can address these issues on our behalf.”

Rousseau said the new rule was a human rights violation.

Logan Chetty, of the KwaZulu-Natal Funeral Directors’ Association, said the municipality should have consulted with them.

“We have been told that if utility bills are in arrears, families will not be given burial spaces or cremation slots. Even producing a utility bill is outrageous. People are mourning.”

Clive Moodley, of Pinetown Funeral Services, said a family had informed him that they recently went through the process.

“This is not fair on them. It is also an infringement on our work.”

The owner of Wyebank Funeral Services, Lenny Reddy, said: “We generally receive notices of any changes from the city. If this is the new rule then it needs to be correctly rolled out to all stakeholders.”