Stakeholders present at the forum included: undertakers, stonemasons, the forensic department, the traffic department, home affairs and social development.<\/p>\n
Among those present to tackle the issues was Ekurhuleni\u2019s executive mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele.<\/p>
Gungubele, among other things, addressed the problem of burial space.<\/p>\n
\u201cGauteng is the smallest province in the country but with the highest population,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people, born and bred in Gauteng, want to be buried here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of space is very important and we have to discuss and question whether we can continue with separate graves and burying people the way we do now.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Vandalism at cemeteries was also among Gungubele\u2019s concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is also an issue of vandalism, which takes form in many ways,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, a cemetery is also vandalised by people who bury illegally.\u201d<\/p>\n Thabo Banda, owner of Khulana Funeral Undertakers based in Katlehong, felt that the forum was due and much-needed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a good initiative, there are a lot of issues that are affecting us as service providers that need to be discussed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the grey areas we, undertakers, think needs to be addressed is the issue around by-laws.<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel that these by-laws are not in favour of our current living condition standards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIssues of space, as alluded, and also of pricing are some of the things that we need to deal with.<\/p>\n \u201cMuch as we feel it is right for people to pay for graves, the prices of the graves are becoming very exorbitant.\u201d<\/p>\n Banda, who is also the chairman of the South African Funeral Practitioners Association (SAFPA), said he hopes that solutions will materialise soon.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is imperative to review these by-laws in order to meet the needs of the community, as well as to ensure effective and efficient rendering of services by Ekurhuleni cemeteries,\u201d said the metro\u2019s acting spokesman, Zweli Dlamini.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You might also be interested in:<\/p>\n Ekurhuleni awarded for best managed landfill sites in Gauteng<\/a><\/p>\n Metro adopts 52 water agents<\/a><\/p>\n The metro has a number of tips for people to become savvier with their power<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Cemetery](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2016\/06\/25GCNMUNICIPALFORUPS2-Custom.jpg\")
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