Ekurhuleni has no plans to bury a family member with a stranger

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 today.

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,” said metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe.

“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.”

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.

The methods are as follows:

Reselling of graves:

This is the sale of graves back to Council by people who had previously reserved them and have since decided to utilize other methods instead.

This enables the municipality to make then available for current burial needs and pay the seller the prescribed cost.

Currently there are no reservations allowed for public.

Cremation:

This is the incineration of bodies in a cremator.

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 said.

This process takes place in the following manner:

• The family fills in a form requesting the municipality to re-open the grave.
• The cemetery officer checks the register to confirm whether the grave does belongs to the family.
• The cemetery officer physically inspects the grave with the family member to ensure that it is the right grave, and then approves the application.
• The family then has the responsibility to remove the tombstone at their own cost, in cases where there is a tombstone.
• The municipality then digs 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,” said Gadebe.