The City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE) Department of Parks and Cemeteries hosted the Undertakers Forum along with funeral parlours and stonemasons to discuss various challenges.

It was recently held at Victoria Hall in Germiston.

Discussions focused on the limited burial space, alternative burial options, refurbishment of crematoriums, burial compliance and tariffs.

The CoE raised concerns about the shortage of burial space across the city’s cemeteries.

Dlamini said the shortage of space is attributed to various factors, including population growth, insufficient land acquisition for cemetery development to meet the increasing demand for burials and unsuitable land portions within cemeteries.

“The city is encouraging communities to make use of alternative burial methods such as burying family members in one grave to a maximum of three. The city is deepening the graves to accommodate such an option.

“The issue of cremation is also encouraged in this regard,” said Dlamini in a statement.

He said the community of Thembisa has been facing a growing challenge as they are forced to travel long distances for burial and to visit their loved ones. This is becoming common as the burial space shrinks every year, he explained.

When asked about the considerations that determine the development of new burial space or the redevelopment of existing spaces, Dlamini said the city is considering other alternatives such as mausoleums at cemeteries where the ground is not suitable for in-earth burial, crematoriums, cremating paupers and so on.