Bidding a final farewell to your loved one is stressful enough – burial space is the last thing you want to worry about.
The City of Ekurhuleni does not have enough land for new cemeteries and has proposed alternative burial methods, such as cremation and burying loved ones in one grave.
Both options are offered at lower rates than traditional burial methods .
Traditional leaders were introduced to alternative burial methods, instead of traditional graves, as part of consultation.
Of the city’s 63 cemeteries, only 2l are active.
By 2013/2014, most were used for second and third interment burials.
In the 2012-2013 financial year, stakeholders were consulted to look for solutions to the ongoing vandalism at cemeteries.
Interesting facts:
• The city has burial space for an estimated 30 years only.
• Cremation fees are kept to a minimum to encourage cremation, and fees include the use of a chapel.
• The city has only one crematorium, in Benoni.
• Strategies to encourage alternative methods to traditional burials are paying off.
• In 20l2/13, 15 866 burials and 731 cremations took place. A year later, burials were down and cremations were up, with 14 092 burials and l 040 cremations.
• Efforts are underway to regulate undertakers.
Also read: Maintenance at cemetery upsets mourner
Ekurhuleni utilises modern technology to manage cemeteries
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