Durban funeral stand-off resolved

THE impasse between the National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa (Nafupa SA) and white and Indian-owned funeral undertakers has been resolved, the Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs says.

Nafupa SA had threatened to stop white and Indian-owned funeral undertakers from operating in townships from tomorrow.

Bongani Tembe, spokesperson for Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala, said the stand-off was resolved following a meeting between the parties yesterday.

He said the department, Nafupa SA and several stakeholders in the funeral undertaking business, including Doves and Avbob, had all agreed to form a steering committee to address issues raised by black-owned funeral businesses.

“We agreed that the threat to stop white and Indian funeral undertakers from operating in townships from Thursday should be halted.

“We have formed a steering committee which will process all the issues that they have raised,” Tembe said.

He said the committee comprised members from four different associations.

“The meeting went well and all parties agreed on a programme of action going forward.

“They will meet regularly to process all the issues that have been raised, particularly by the funeral industry,” Tembe said.

Despite this, Muzi Hlengwa, president of Nafupa SA, said a march the association had scheduled for tomorrow to the Durban City Hall and Sanlam offices would still go ahead as planned.

He said Nafupa SA emerged from the meeting with Zikalala’s department with a few gains, but that they would continue in their quest to have all their concerns addressed.

Last week, Nafupa SA secretary-general Nkosentsha Shezi told the Sunday Tribune that families’ choices were restricted to the list of a few companies provided by the Road Accident Fund.

He said that this was a violation of a consumer’s choice.

“We are sick and tired of whites, Indians and a few black people colluding with government, using a tender system in the funeral industry,” Shezi said.

Marius du Plessis, Avbob spokesperson, said he was delighted that “some form” of an amicable solution had been found, even if it was just in the interim.

He said this would give the parties involved an opportunity to discuss matters and find long term solutions.

Khandani Msibi, group chief executive officer for Doves, suggested in a newspaper advertisement this month that KZN funeral parlours meet with provincial government and provide commercial solutions so that black businesses can legally occupy a position in the black market.