MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / As Cremations Increase Revised Regulations On Crematoriums Critical

As Cremations Increase Revised Regulations On Crematoriums Critical

Dear Editor

  • Crematoriums all over the country have reported major backlogs.
  • The government has failed to monitor and regulate the industry.
  • To address this pressing issue the DA is currently engaged in a consultative process that will culminate in among others recommendations for control and minimum operational standards for crematoriums.

The DA is currently engaged in a consultative process that will culminate in recommendations for revising regulations that deal with licencing, control and minimum operational standards for crematoriums. The current system is chaotic and is failing to protect the dignity of the deceased and their loved ones.

The piling up of bodies at various morgues across the country and the latest visits by members of The Funeral Industry Reformed Association (FIRA) at Pine Haven, Krugerdorp, exposed the Gauteng government’s inability to monitor and regulate the industry.

There is a greater need to strengthen the human resource capacity of forensic pathology services across the country to avoid late issuing out of D28 forms which has led to the decomposing of bodies at places like Hillbrow and Pine Haven Mortuary.

According to the Funeral Industry Reformed Association (FIRA), storing bodies was becoming nearly impossible due to the limited crematoriums and storage facilities available in some provinces.

Crematoriums are overwhelmed and have reported major backlogs. Morgues are unable to efficiently dispose of piled-up bodies due to an inconsistent and outdated regulatory framework. Ordinarily, provinces should be playing a more prominent role on this sensitive environment.

Time frames for permits are adequate, but there are no controls to ensure that illegal substances are not imported and exported with deceased persons.

Additionally, it is important to establish regulatory bodies such as an implementation agency, ombudsman and a bargaining council to advise the government and help regularise the funeral sector. Public complaints should be urgently attended to even in the absence of a dedicated funeral industry ombudsman.

At present, there are also no minimum standards on, for example, coffins causing possible pollution at crematoriums and possible pollution of underground water. The same applies to zoning of parlours, cemeteries and crematoriums operating in or close to residential areas.

The deceased should be treated with respect and dignity. The state must uphold the right of bereaved families to know what happened to their loved ones.

Regards

Jacques Smalle MP
DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Older Persons Grants Land Today — No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, Older Persons grants are paid today, 30 October, under SASSA’s revised November payment schedule — with disability grants on Monday 2 November, children’s grants on Tuesday 3 November, and grants under review on Thursday 5 November. Two things every beneficiary should know. First, grant money does not expire on payment day. It stays…

  • November Grants Pay Early – No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. November grants pay earlier than usual. Older Persons grants are paid on Friday 30 October, Disability grants on 2 November, and Child Support and other grants on 3 November. Grants still under review are paid on 5 November. The money…

  • NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October — SASSA households, apply now

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year close on Friday 31 October 2026, and no extension is expected. If your household receives a SASSA grant, your child already passes the NSFAS financial eligibility test — but they still have to…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Fun South African Fact: What about beer? South African brewery SABMiller ranks – by volume – as the largest brewing company in the world. Saffers love their beer…but the real reason the brewery is so big? SABMiller also supplies up to 50% of China’s beer.