Funeral parlours try to stop racist ban

The National Funeral Parlours Association has turned to the Equality Court to stop a controversial ban on Indian and white-owned undertakers operating in townships.

However‚ the order may come long after February 1 – the date from which National Funeral Practitioners Association of SA (Nafupa-SA) warns the ban will come into effect – as the association has until February 19 to respond before the matter is set down for a hearing.

In the application filed in the Durban Equality Court on Monday‚ National Funeral Parlours Association public relations officer Mlungisi Chiliza said Nafupa-SA and its executive were fanning racial prejudice.

Last month‚ Nafupa-SA issued a statement calling for the ban and urged township residents to cash out funeral policies with Indian and white-owned parlours.

Despite a meeting with KZN economic development‚ tourism and environmental affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala and an application for an interdict filed in the Durban High Court by the Doves Group‚ Nafupa-SA maintained it would go ahead with its boycott.

Chiliza approached several police stations following Nafupa-SA’s threat, but “the indication was that it was preferable” that his association obtain an interdict from the Equality Court.

Yesterday, Nafupa-SA’s secretary-general Nkosentsha Shezi said he was unaware of the Equality Court case.

When asked about the proposed ban‚ Shezi said: “On Thursday we will be ready to service our people and will be pushing a campaign for black people to support black people.” –