Can you afford to die?
Many die without leaving financial provisions for their loved ones to pay for dealing with their body.
When you, or a loved one dies, there are expenses that cannot be avoided and these should be prepared for if possible.
Calling an undertaker is usually the step which can assist with practicalities of handling the body of the deceased person as there are strict laws and regulations.
Westpark Cemetery was opened in 1942 and thousands have since been laid to rest here. Burial there for an adult costs R3 259 to secure the space and for the grave to be dug, a cost that will be included in an undertaker’s fee.
Sonja Smith, owner of the Sonja Smith Funeral Group which has 10 branches across Gauteng, warns of dishonest undertakers who operate unregistered businesses in unapproved facilities. “I could tell you horror stories of when we have had to collect bodies of loved ones from unscrupulous undertakers for a variety of reasons. Some of the bodies are kept in unsanitary conditions on the floor, are unlabelled and in a terrible state.”
She explained that legitimate undertakers will not force unnecessary expenses on a family, but there are some that are needed, depending on the circumstances of the death. “We only embalm a body at the request of the family, or if being repatriated, when it is a legal requirement.”
A good example of an unexpected cost is when a person dies at home but was not recently seen by a doctor and the family want the body to be cremated. Smith says, “No doctor should sign a Schedule B for a cremation if the person died at home without having a treating doctor. The family in this situation will have to pay for a private post-mortem for a cremation to take place, which will cost about R5 000.”
She adds, “Costs will be determined by the cause of death. Undertaker fees are the largest component of expenses and include transporting the body, taking care of it, filing necessary paperwork, coffining, and taking care of funeral arrangements and services. The work we do is sacred when dealing with the earthly remains of someone who has passed on, regardless of their religion or background.”
Zolani Matebese, CEO of the SendOff App says, “It would be difficult to have a funeral or cremation for less than R15 000 in the current market which is a significant amount for families if they have not prepared for it. Some undertakers will offer their services for less, but they need to be properly vetted as there are large numbers of informal parlours who do not always handle the deceased with care or respect, and in line with health and other regulations.”
He adds that many families have signed up for what they believe to be a funeral policy, but R29 a month will probably just provide a contribution toward a funeral but often not cover the entire cost.
The Sendoff App is a new platform where you can plan and book everything you need for a funeral service. From the most basic of packages to those that cater for a more significant event from the booking of a funeral parlour, flowers, catering, coffins and more.
Plan for your passing
Smith, when asked what she wishes families knew before a loved one dies, said, “When we have discussions about what decisions to take and how to cope with a loved one’s passing, we find time and time again that they do not know answers to some important questions.
Did they have a will, do they know where the marriage certificate is, are the car registration papers accessible and so on. That is why we have a Life File that people can download for free. It contains 42 items to be dealt with and where important documents can be safely stored to make handling the difficult process of wrapping up someone’s life easier to bear.”
City cemeteries
Reggie Moloi, manager of cemeteries and crematoria for City Parks, explained, “If an indigent person dies, there is a social burial policy that can be utilised through the city, but the criteria to qualify is strict. The family will need to inform their local ward councillor of the death who will perform initial investigations to confirm the financial status of the individual and family. So too will the Department of Social Development. If all the criteria are met, the family can choose to have the deceased either buried or cremated.”
When a person that has no family or funds dies, they will be buried as a pauper in a grave with four other bodies. Moloi adds, “Should family be found, or come forward at a later date, the deceased can be exhumed, and buried or cremated according to their wishes, but they will be responsible for the costs associated with that.”
The city currently has 37 cemeteries with four that are still active, meaning they can still have burial space available. They are Olifantsvlei, Westpark, Diepsloot and Waterfall Cemetery in Midrand.
Should death rates remain normal, outside of pandemic levels, there is enough land available for the next 45 years.
You can download the Life File from the Sonja Smith Funeral Group at https://sonjasmith-funerals.co.za/my-life-file/
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