Cremation for work hours only?

Tongaat residents took to the streets in their blue DA T-shirts on Saturday morning to protest against the decision that the cremation hall will no longer work after hours.

“It is clear that the Ethekwini municipality is in serious financial trouble and thus are cancelling staff and overtime for crematoria, cemeteries and municipal halls,” said DA member of parliament for the Tongaat area, Tim Brauteseth.

“They have a shortfall of R46 million and are now trying to save money by stopping overtime payment,” said councillor Brian Jayanathan.

These facilities will now close at 4pm during the week and at 12pm on a Saturday.

“This decision is disrespectful of the culture of the residents of the Tongaat area, as many cultural events happen over the weekend and by closing the facilities at 12pm, they will be deprived of the facilities they pay rates for every month to be maintained,” said Brauteseth.

He added that the municipality might even charge tariffs for the use of these facilities but despite this they cannot keep their doors open.

“This is a complete breach of the social contract between the city and residents and cannot be allowed to stand,” he said.

According to Brauteseth, the DA in Ethekwini will engage the relevant authorities in a bid to get them to retract this decision which is due to come up for a final ratification at a council meeting later this month.

The Ethekwini municipality have not yet commented on the issue.