The proposals put forward by the eThekwini municipality during its two-day cemeteries workshop yesterday angered the leaders, who labelled it "disrespectful" and "unAfrican".

The Durban municipality's department of parks, leisure and cemeteries revealed to more than 200 delegates that some of the proposals included the banning of burials on Sunday, use of biodegradable coffins, recycling of graves, standardisation of tombstones and imposing a fine on late comers.

The municipality has proposed that families of corteges that arrive late at cemeteries should be fined R1,000.

The workshop was aimed at engaging community leaders about alternative burial methods due to the shortage of available space in cemeteries.

Deputy chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal traditional leaders, Chief Mpiyezintombi Mzimela, expressed shock that the municipality believed that communities would consider recycling graves to save space.

Mzimela said in African tradition a persons' grave a "place of rest that should never be interfered with after the burial".

"As traditional leaders we will not stand back and watch our people do the opposite of what they believe in. We will not encourage our people to re- use graves and we are appealing to the municipality to respect our tradition," he said.

Mzimela questioned the proposal of fining late comers, saying grieving families usually lost track of time.

The department's deputy head Christo Swart said 18,000 burials took place annually in all of the city's 62 cemeteries and urged communities to consider alternative burial methods, including cremation.

He described tombstones as an obstacle in their plans to re-use or maintain graves.

"Graves could be leased for R690 over a 10-year period and if the lease is renewed, a R5,000 fee would be applicable.

"Sunday burial will be not allowed except on special circumstances and late comers would be fined R1,000," he said.

Swart explained that housing and other developmental projects competed for land with cemeteries. He stated that the provincial Cemeteries and Cremation Act allowed for two people to be buried in one grave, saying there were plans to recycle 1400 abandoned graves.

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Tue May 21 09:21:14 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 3, 2011

ApelMankotsana

But how will banning burials on Sundays help in solving their problem. The problem is about a shortage of burial space. We are gradually witnessing our country been re-colonised not by Britain and America, but by our own Africans.
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Aug 3, 2011

OomGreat

What does Zwelithini say?
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Aug 3, 2011

KHOROMMBI

Mbulungo na kale na kele dzi fariwa nga Mugivhela. Zulus want to change everything..
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Aug 3, 2011

Tikido

start burying in the yard ! no problem.
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Aug 3, 2011

Mpotjekegobotje

What does a Sunday burial has anything to do with this problms?
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Aug 3, 2011

nothingbut-thetruth

Fu@#K! fu@#k! fu@#k! fu@#k! everyone who agrees with this Swart thing. Where in Africa did you ever hear about recylcing graves. People are grieving and others cant even afford to bury their love one and now you want to fine them. Again repeat again FFFFFFFFF@#k! Ethekwini Municipality. Crimation Im not against but "IT IS JUST NOT OUR CULTURE" meaning Africans. So next time when they are bored and thinking of making money they must just "STAY AWAY FROM OUR GRAVES" Ngiyaphahla mina and now they want to recycle. Fu@#st@k
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Aug 3, 2011

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

the proposals included the banning of burials on Sunday, use of biodegradable coffins, recycling of graves, standardisation of tombstones and imposing a fine on late comers.

The municipality has proposed that families of corteges that arrive late at cemeteries should be fined R1,000.
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Phew! Is this the democracy that we fought for??????

I dont have a problem with recycling of graves but restricting burials to certain day????? Its not ayoba and the fines??????? Hai ko nzima........ next they will be telling us about burial "quotas" per family per annum...

Thank God I want to be cremated and I stay in Jozi....
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Aug 3, 2011

Witblitz

Mzimela said in African tradition a persons' grave a "place of rest that should never be interfered with after the burial".

So why do they keep on digging up the graves of ex terrorists and re-burying them elsewhere?

Blacks love to use the "African traditions" excuse when it suits them - just like they love to use the race card!
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Aug 3, 2011

HollaBaby

mihlolo le yona! R1000 fine?
shooo and then the burial on sunday yona ingena kuphi ke lapho?
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Aug 3, 2011

HollaBaby

@Witblitz
you out of order my bra

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