The reality is, the City of Ekurhuleni, as well other cities in the country, is running out of space to develop new cemeteries, and therefore the conversation about alternative burial methods should rightfully begin.
Currently Ekurhuleni has only 30 years in burial capacity.
“We are aware that this is a sensitive issue in terms of cultural and religious beliefs and indeed it is an emotional matter. However, when all is said and done reality demands of us that we find equal footing and unite in the resolve to tackle this challenge,” Ekurhuleni Spokesperson Themba Gadebe said.
The City of Ekurhuleni has implemented alternative burial methods aimed at sustainable and effective use of burial space in addition to the traditional in ground internment.
Some of these methods include the reselling of graves, cremation and multi use.
• Reselling of graves:
Previously reserved graves can be sold back to the Council, if the owners have since decided to make use of other alternative burial methods.
This enables the municipality to make the plots available for current burial needs, and pay the seller the prescribed cost.
Currently there are no reservations allowed for the public.
• Cremation:
This is the incineration of bodies in a crematorium.
It is the cheapest method and transparent for family members to know what has happened until the end, the only crematorium in the region is in Benoni which also offers the use of a chapel for free to families who wish to make use of this method.
The ashes are made available within 24-48 hours after cremation.
• Multi Use:
This is a method of double or triple internments where families can opt to bury up to three family members in one grave.
Gadebe firmly refutes the much sensationalized claim that the City of Ekurhuleni seeks to bury a person’s family member with strangers in one grave. This is not the true reflection of the city’s alternative burial strategy.
“In our strategy, the community and funeral undertakers are informed in a transparent manner of the options to bury family members on top of each other in the same grave – and not strangers, “he emphasises.
There are processes in place to ensure that only family members can be buried together.
Forms requesting the municipality to re-open the grave should be filled in, and checked to confirm that the right grave is re-opened.
The cemetery officer physically inspects the grave with the family member. This is done to ensure that it is the right grave before approving the application.
When there is a tombstone on the grave, it is the family’s responsibility to remove the tombstone at their own cost.
The municipality will then dig the grave.
“It is, therefore, inconceivable that a family member can be requested to open their grave for a stranger to be buried with their loved ones. The misinterpreted claim that the City seeks to bury people with strangers was mentioned in passing to a journalist in reference to other countries, where there is a huge shortage of land and it had nothing to do with the City of Ekurhuleni,” Gadebe clarified.
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