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The funeral industry is planning a three-day nationwide shutdown of its services in an attempt to draw the government’s attention to a long list of lawsuits it wants to address.
The call for the closure was led by the Unification Task Force (UTT), a grouping of 17 funeral associations and forums, and was scheduled to begin on Monday, September 14 through Wednesday, September 16.
During the planned shutdown, no bodies would be removed from hospitals or homes and there would be no burials, UTT national coordinator Peter Matlatle told News24 on Sunday.
UTT said the South African government had not done enough to ensure that the industry was diverse and transformed. He said that since 1994, the industry was still dominated by “white minority capital” and a handful of “black elites.”
“Today’s government has lost its ability to understand the plight and aspirations of black undertakers, deepening neglect, intimidation of blatant abuse of power by political authorities, and sheer disregard for the voice of the black funeral homes.
“The South African funeral industry has its roots in the alliance between white minority capital and black elites, as a result, the majority of black funeral directors are discriminated against. [against], oppressed and marginalized.
“Undertakers are peaceful and respectable entrepreneurs who contribute billions of rand to the economy of the Republic of South Africa, through honest living,” said the formation.
Their long list of demands was directed at various government departments, including: Health, Home Affairs, Small Business Development, and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
The Highway Accident Fund, the National Consumer Commission and the Financial Services Conduct Authority were also included on the list. Some of the issues the industry wanted to address included the following:
From the Department of Health, the UTT wanted the subcontracting of mortuary facilities to be recognized and legalized, as well as for all funeral directors who share the storage facility on a lease or property to qualify for ownership of the certificate of competence for that particular installation.
From Internal Affairs, the UTT wanted annual provincial calendars for the writing of the examinations of the designation numbers.
He wanted the department to allow funeral homes that did not have a certificate of competency to write designation number exams and for funeral directors to be able to appoint an attorney-in-fact to perform some of the functions on their behalf.
From the COGTA department, UTT wanted the municipality’s statutes to be amended to accommodate the construction of bulk or grouped or complex storage.
He also wanted the government to allocate a Covid-19 Relief Fund for the funeral industry, effective immediately.
“We initially raised this matter with Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, National Director of Health Mr. Ramathuba and Dr. Bandile Masuku of the MEC of Gauteng Health, in three different meetings, but our request fell on deaf ears,” said the training.
They also said they wanted the bidding system in the industry to be eliminated.
“We want the bidding system in the funeral industry to be eliminated, so that families have the constitutional right to name their preferred service provider. When there are no families to choose a service provider, a rotation database should be applied. There are no offers at all. “
The UTT also said it wanted the government to consult the industry before making any decisions that could affect it.
“We want the government to always consult the funeral industry in any event that seeks to affect the funeral industry directly or indirectly. We can no longer be asked to comment on drafts that have been discussed and commissioned in our absence. ” From the Small Business Development Department, she wanted him to channel part of his budget into the industry in the form of grants that would help develop small and emerging funeral homes.
“We want the government to introduce programs that seek to help struggling funeral homes that were previously at a disadvantage, especially black-owned funeral homes, to be eligible. Don’t close them. “
Destructive and inhuman
However, the South African Association of Funeral Practitioners (SAFPA) had said it would not participate in the national lockdown.
SAFPA vice president Ndabe Ngcobo said the association will not engage in the “destructive” and “inhumane” action.
“We are dealing with lifeless bodies. This approach is too radical for our industry. Not picking up a body for even a day is a disaster; how much more for three days. This is inhumane and destructive, ”Ngcobo told News24.
“While it should be noted that SAFPA is part of the UTT and recognizes the legitimacy of some of the complaints raised by UTT in the statement dated September 7, 2020, SAFPA, however, will not be part of the closure.
“We are an organization that promotes compliance with regulations and we believe that there are other avenues that can be explored to address the challenges we face as undertakers in South Africa.”
The plans for the closure were as follows:
The total national shutdown would begin at midnight on Monday, September 14, 2020 across the country.
- All funeral activities would not be operational throughout the country.
- Peaceful funeral company demonstrations should be visible and effective in the vicinity of hospitals, morgues, cemeteries and anywhere else possible.
- Families should call SAPS to request and escort forensic personnel for removal of bodies from homes.
- Funeral home offices must be closed.
- Headstones should not be erected.
- Funeral providers must not sell or deliver caskets or funeral equipment.
- Workers in the funeral industry should stay away from work.
- Protesters must wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Government spokeswoman Phumla Williams was not immediately available for comment. Your comments would be added once received.
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