Strictly only 50 mourners at funerals during lockdown

THERE is no going back on the maximum of 50 people allowed at funerals during the lockdown, and the cities of Joburg and Ekurhuleni have released their guidelines on how funerals should be conducted.

Yesterday, the City of Joburg said funeral offices would be open from Mondays to Fridays, but would be limiting the number of mourners per procession to only 50.

The measures were announced by the mayoral committee member for economic and community development Margaret Arnolds.

“In light of the 21-day lockdown, the following temporary measures have been put in place to comply with the regulations gazetted by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs,” Arnolds said yesterday.

Cremation services are to be limited to not more than 40 people at the chapel, and will be undertaken daily.

Provisions have also been made for many Africans who close graves with spades.

The city said it would make available its tractor-loader-backhoes for grave closures.

“As the city, we are taking these drastic measures to ensure compliance with the national state of disaster which has been declared, and assist our residents to bury their loved ones in dignity, while also protecting themselves and those around them from infection.

“We plead with bereaved families to take caution and adhere to these guidelines,” Arnolds said.

Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina also unveiled plans.

He said Ekurhuleni would have 20 active cemeteries, each with 30 employees only for burials.

Masina added that no operations or unveilings would be permitted.

He said funeral processions had been limited to not more than 50 people. Each funeral should run for not more than an hour, and the city would try to spread burials over the five week-days to avoid weekend congestion.

“The municipality has not closed and we are committed to continuing serving our residents. Every resident of Ekurhuleni needs to understand how serious the situation is.

“We have to change the way we live, if we are going to flatten the curve of this rapidly growing pandemic. We continue to call on everyone to stay at home.

“That is the single most important thing anyone can do right now.

“Protect yourself and save lives,” the mayor said.